The Adélie penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) is a bird of the penguin family, Spheniscidae, in the order Sphenisciformes.
Quick answer
The Adélie penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) is a medium-sized penguin of Antarctica, with a black head, white belly and a white ring around each eye. It breeds on ice-free rocky coasts and islands all around the continent, building nests of stones, and spends winter at the edge of the pack ice. Wild birds have lived up to 16 years. With about 10 million mature birds and an increasing trend, it is listed as Least Concern.
Top questions about the Adélie Penguin
Adélie Penguin facts at a glance
- Weight 4.8 kg
- Length 60 cm
| Scientific name | Pygoscelis adeliae |
|---|---|
| Diet | Mainly Antarctic krill; also fish and squid |
| Habitat | Antarctic coasts, islands and pack ice |
| Height | About 60 cm |
| Weight | Average about 4.8 kg |
| Lifespan | Known to live up to 16 years in the wild |
| Conservation status | Least Concern (IUCN Red List, assessed 2020) |
| Kingdom | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Sphenisciformes |
| Family | Spheniscidae |
| Genus | Pygoscelis |
Where it lives
The adélie penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) is native to Coasts and islands all around Antarctica; winters at the edge of the pack ice. — recorded across Antarctica, Oceans in this guide’s range summary.
For occurrence records, see GBIF species search and sources below.
How big is a adélie penguin?
An adult adélie penguin measures 60 cm long — about 35% of the height of an average adult person (1.73 m) — and weighs around 4.8 kg, about 7% of an average adult’s body weight (70 kg).
Length vs an average adult’s height (to scale)
What is a group of adélie penguins called?
Group name (collective noun)
A group of Adélie Penguins is called a colony. It is also known as a rookery.
Baby name
A baby Adélie Penguin is called a chick.
Explore more animal collective nouns and baby animal names .
Identification
Adélies are the classic 'tuxedo' penguin: black back, head and throat, white belly, and a bright white ring around each eye. Feathers cover much of the short bill, which is black with an orange base. The feet are pale pink with black soles.
Stone nests
In spring the birds walk across the sea ice to colonies on ice-free rocky ground, where they build nests of small stones that keep eggs above meltwater. Stones are scarce, and stealing them from neighbours is common. Most pairs lay two eggs.
Named after Adèle
French explorer Jules Dumont d'Urville named the penguin, and the coast of Antarctica where he found it in 1840, after his wife, Adèle.
Status
BirdLife International lists the Adélie penguin as Least Concern (2020), estimating about 10 million mature birds and an increasing trend overall. Colonies on the warming Antarctic Peninsula have shrunk as sea ice has declined, while others in East Antarctica and the Ross Sea have grown.
Explore the Adélie Penguin
Close relatives
- Gentoo Penguin Same genus
- Emperor Penguin Same family
- Little Penguin Same family
- African Penguin Same family
Range & geography
Did you know? Adélie Penguin facts
- Adélie penguins sometimes toboggan across the ice on their bellies, pushing with their feet.
- The species and its stretch of Antarctic coast, Adélie Land, share a name.
Conservation status of the Adélie Penguin
The Adélie penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Least Concern (LC) is the IUCN's lowest-risk category, assigned to widespread, abundant species that have been evaluated and found not to be threatened. It does not mean a species faces no pressures — only that it is not currently at risk of extinction.
Adélie Penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) was most recently assessed for the IUCN Red List in 2020. Look up on the IUCN Red List .
Frequently asked questions about the Adélie Penguin
Where do Adélie penguins live?
All around the coast of Antarctica and nearby islands. In winter they move north to the edge of the pack ice.
How long do Adélie penguins live?
Wild Adélies have been recorded living up to 16 years.
How do you pronounce Adélie?
Usually a-DAY-lee, after Adèle, the wife of the French explorer who named it.
Are Adélie penguins endangered?
No. They are listed as Least Concern with an increasing population, although colonies on the Antarctic Peninsula have declined.
What is a group of adélie penguins called?
A group of Adélie Penguins is called a colony. It is also known as a rookery.
What is a baby adélie penguin called?
A baby Adélie Penguin is called a chick.
Sources & references
This guide is compiled and reviewed against established zoological and conservation references. Key sources for the Adélie Penguin:
-
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Conservation status (Least Concern) reflects the IUCN Red List category for Pygoscelis adeliae, most recently assessed in 2020.
-
iNaturalist — observations & photos
Search citizen-science observations and community IDs for Pygoscelis adeliae. Useful for range checks and recent sightings — not a substitute for formal Red List status.
-
GBIF — occurrence data
Global Biodiversity Information Facility species search for Pygoscelis adeliae. Explore published occurrence records used in range research.
-
eBird — bird observations
Cornell Lab eBird target search for Adélie Penguin. Check recent checklists and seasonal abundance where birders report this species.
- BirdLife International (2026). Species factsheet: Adelie Penguin Pygoscelis adeliae. BirdLife DataZone. Checked 1 November 2026.
IUCN Red List category Least Concern (assessed 2020), population estimate and trend.
- Animal Diversity Web: Pygoscelis adeliae. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.
Size, lifespan and diet.
- Tobias, J. A. et al. (2022). AVONET: morphological, ecological and geographical data for all birds. Ecology Letters 25: 581–597. doi:10.1111/ele.13898
Average body mass.
- Gill, F., Donsker, D. & Rasmussen, P. (Eds). IOC World Bird List v15.2.
English and scientific name, classification and range.
-
Global Animal Guide editorial standards
How we research, source, review, and update every guide for accuracy.
