King Penguin juvenile, Falkland Islands

King Penguin juvenile

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King Penguin juvenile
Volunteer Point, Falkland Islands   –   January 18, 2013
— Ralph Paonessa
Canon EOS 7D   *   EF500mm f/4L IS USM   *   ISO 160   *   1/320 sec @ f/8

King Penguins have a long breeding cycle. The chick grows almost as tall as the adults and its brown, downy feathers protect it from the elements during this period when it cannot enter the sea.

So distinctive are these chicks that they were originally thought by whalers to be a separate species, the Wolley Penguin.

Photo ID: 20130118-3718