tags: King Penguin, Aptenodytes patagonicus, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz
[Mystery bird] Immature King Penguin, Aptenodytes patagonicus, photographed in unknown sub-Antarctic island location. [I will identify this bird for you in 48 hours]
Image: creative commons.
NOTE: PLEASE name at least one field mark that supports your identification.
NOTE: Opus the Penguin, a fictional character in the comic strips Bloom County, Outland, and Opus, is a king penguin and the most famous character of the comic strips.
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Dunno the common name, but it's a Sarahpalin quitter.
The spear-like bill betrays the bird's genus...figuring out the species is a bit harder.
That's one hung-over bedraggled adolescent ...
According to the tags on my Facebook page, this individual is a Discipula veterinaria. Plumage suggests second year, and a late November-early December molt. They will get a whiter coat around year 4, but at the moment, they're a pretty sad bunch.
It's a juvenile King penguin, called an "Oakum Boy" in its downy coat before molting to adult feathers of black, white, orange and yellow.
Yep, vicky is right. Young king penguin. Only Kings and Emperors have that particular head/bill shape and its body looks too short/stocky to be an Emperor. That was easy- give us another one...
Jana: haha! very cute.