Real King Penguin Egg

The king penguin is the second largest penguin in the world after the emperor penguin. With its elegant black back, white belly and bright orange patches on its neck, it is a magnificent inhabitant of sub-Antarctic islands. King penguins live in large colonies and spend much of their lives in the water, hunting fish and crustaceans. They are excellent swimmers and divers, able to dive to depths of up to 300 metres.

The king penguin's egg is pear-shaped and weighs about 300 grams. It is carried on the feet by the parents in turn and warmed by a special fold of skin, the brood fold. A king penguin pair only raises one chick per breeding season. The breeding season lasts about 54 days, during which the egg is always protected from the cold. This special breeding strategy is an adaptation to the harsh climate of the sub-Antarctic regions in which the king penguin lives.