Falklands & South Georgia Islands

Juvenile King Penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus)

Salisbury Plain, South Georgia Island

How about that for a nice fur coat? Juvenile king penguins are well insulated by a thick layer of brown down which at times makes them look even bigger than the parent. They were nicknamed "Oakum Boys" by sailors for the resemblance of their brown fluffy plumage to the color of oakum used to caulk timbers on sailing ships. Moulting begins around 10 - 12 months of age and is a stressful time for these birds as they are no longer fed by the parent. In essence, they have sit and wait for their adult plumage before they too can head to the seas in search of food.

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