King Penguin song and calls

Birdsong and calls are often the easiest way to identify the King Penguin, especially when the bird is hidden in dense foliage. Below is what to listen for.

Song

King Penguins do not have a 'song' in the typical avian sense. Their vocalizations are complex calls used for communication within the colony.

Calls

They produce a variety of loud, trumpeting, braying, and squawking calls. The most characteristic is a long, drawn-out, resonant 'trumpet' call used for advertising territory, attracting mates, and communicating with chicks. Chicks emit high-pitched peeping calls. Calls are individually recognizable, allowing parents and chicks to locate each other in crowded colonies.

When they vocalize

Vocalize frequently, especially within the breeding colony, throughout the day and night, particularly during chick-rearing to maintain contact and identify individuals.

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