Often while in the penguin exhibit we hear visitors ask if we have macaroni penguins. At first this may sound quite weird. Is there even a species of penguin called the macaroni and if there is, why would they be named after a type of pasta?

Macaroni penguin

Well, there is in fact a species of penguin called the macaroni penguin (Eudyptes chrysolophus). They are one of the 7 penguin species in the crested penguin family. All seven species have characteristic yellow crest feathers on their heads. Southern rockhoppers (Eudyptes chrysocome) are members of the crested penguin family, which are often confused for macaronis at the Aquarium. One distinct difference between macaroni penguins and rockhoppers is how their crest feathers are “styled”.  Rockhoppers have crest feathers that start over their eyes like eyebrows and then branch off the sides of their heads while the more golden or orange crests of a macaroni penguin start at a point above their beaks and flair out past the eyes. Macaroni penguins also have larger, blunter beaks; stand over 2 feet tall and can weigh up to 14 pounds.

Southern rockhopper penguin

Both rockhopper and macaroni penguins have very large distributions ranges in the sub-Antarctic region and overlap in many locations like the Falkland Islands and other sub-Antarctic Islands like Kerguelen Island, Prince Edward and Marion Island. They also share many distinct behaviors. Both types of penguins are surface nester, meaning they build nests on open surfaces by collecting rocks, twigs and whatever else they can find. They also lay dimorphic eggs which mean the two eggs a female will lay will be noticeably different sizes

Ecstatic display by one of our rockhopper penguins

To impress a mate both types of penguins will perform ecstatic displays consisting of a bow forward, extension the head and neck straight up followed by loud vocalizations and shaking their heads back and forth displaying their beautiful crest feathers.



Now the burning question: how did the macaroni penguins get such a silly name?

Macaronism was a style of dress popular in 18th century Europe, consisting of elaborate outfits, oftentimes including hats with large ornate feathers on them. People who adopted this style were called macaronis. In the early 19th century, English sailors on the Falkland Islands saw macaroni penguins with their elaborate crest feathers and named them macaronis.

The line “He put a feather in his cap and called it macaroni” from the song Yankee Doodle also refers to that fancy fashion style.

If you like penguins—because of their signature waddle, dapper feathers, impressive trills, speedy underwater flight—then get yourself to the New England Aquarium this summer!

Not only are there more than 80 penguins to observe bounding, eating, swimming and squawking around their exhibit, but we have a brand new, family-friendly program all about the secret world of penguins! It's called Penguinology, and when you finish your journey you'll be a penguinologist armed with gobs of new information to share about these beloved birds.

While its parents are having a little swim behind this scenes, this little blue penguin chick is getting weighed and measured to make sure it's growing up healthy and strong.

Here's how it works: When you visit the Aquarium, pick up one of our Penguinology guides. Each one delves into prehistoric penguins, unbelievable penguin anatomy features and introduces researchers who are dedicated to helping penguins in the wild. You'll also find a penguin mystery on every page, which is only solved at one of our special decoder stations throughout the building!

We're also planning special opportunities for visitors to connect with the dedicated folks who take care of the penguins every day: our penguin biologists. They'll talk about what's going on behind the scenes—and it's all sorts of cute! You see, the Aquarium takes part in Species Survival Plans to raise penguin chicks. So right now there are pairs of penguin parents raising chicks in cozy burrows! These daily presentations in the Blue Planet Action Center are your way to learn about what it takes to help these penguin parents raise healthy chicks here at the Aquarium!

Inside the 150-thousand gallon penguin exhibit, we'll have our usual presentations and feedings. That's when Aquarium staff or volunteers don wetsuits and slip into the 56˚ water to care for and talk about the birds we have on exhibit. You'll learn about the plight of penguins in the wild and what you can do to help penguin species in the wild—where climate change and invasive species are just some of the challenges they face.

You'll find wet-suited penguin keepers in and around the exhibit all day. They're either giving presentations, feeding the birds or scrubbing the islands  to make sure they're clean and healthy for the birds.

The New England Aquarium is your destination for all things penguins this summer. And oh yeah, you'll also find hundreds more marine animals while you're here at the Aquarium, too. From fur seals and sea lions to sea turtles and eels, let a visit to the Aquarium transport you to far corners of our blue planet. Hope to see you around!

Now here's a penguin that wears his heart on his sleeve. Actually, his chest.

Meet Quoin!

We have mentioned in previous blogs that the African penguins have spot patterns on their chests that are unique to each penguin, sort of like our finger prints. Being that we just celebrated Valentine’s Day, I would like to introduce you to one of our African penguins who has a very fitting spot pattern.

Note his blue and brown bracelet on his left wing

This is Quoin II he has a blue and brown bracelet on his left wing. He was born at the Aquarium on May, 25, 2010, and his parents are Alfred and Treasure II (formerly profiled in another Valentine's Day post!!).

Quoin as a juvenile

If you remember from previous blog posts juvenile African penguins have a different feather pattern than adults. They won’t get their adult plumage until they are about a year and a half to two years old. So when he molted from his juvenile feathers to his adult feathers we were quite surprised to see that Quoin’s spot pattern resembled a heart shape right on the middle of his chest.

Quoin adult plumage revealed a distinct heart shape!

Quoin is named after an island in Mossel Bay, South Africa, that was once an African penguin breeding island. Quoin is an old English word for a wedge of metal, or wood used elevate muzzle loading canons and describes the physical appearance of the island.  

You can read some of our more “romantic” blog posts about the penguin breeding programs here at the Aquarium. Our penguins are part of a species survival plan for African penguins, which are endangered in the wild. 

• Learn about romantic getaways for the breeding pairs
• Once a pair lays an egg, here's how biologists check on the eggs
• When the chicks start to hatch out of their shells, it's called pipping
• And then...penguin chicks! Oh the cuteness
• The chicks get regular check-ups
• And regular dips in the pool when their juvenile plumage grows in
• Then it's time for them to join the rest of the colony in the exhibit!

It has been several months since we introduced the penguins back into the penguin exhibit following the completion of the Giant Ocean Tank renovations. Both penguins and staff have fallen back into the normal daily routine.

Rockhopper penguin

After almost a year at their off-site holding facility, many wondered if the penguins would return to their old territories on the islands. Since the penguins had never been out of their exhibit for such a long period of time, we were wondering the same thing.

African penguins

One by one the penguins were returned to the exhibit. It was quite amazing to watch the majority of the penguins return to their old territories like they had never left. Well-established penguin pairs returned to their old territories; these pairs that have been together in the same spots for years. When you think about it this is not surprising since penguins are very territorial by nature and many penguins in the wild return to the same nest site every breeding season after spending the majority of the year out at sea.

Some penguins returned to familiar territory

Not every penguin returned to their previous spots. Most of the new territories were established by our younger penguins who never really established a territory before we left for the renovations. Luckily they managed to find new territories without causing any fights with other penguins.

Other younger birds scoped out a new plot to call home

Here's a quick video of the African and rockhopper penguins soon after returning to the exhibit!



We were very excited to see what the little blue penguins would do when they were returned to the exhibit. If you remember in 2012 we imported 14 little blue penguins from the Taronga Zoo in Sydney, Australia. By the time they finished their USDA quarantine in California followed by our standard 30 day quarantine, all the resident Aquarium penguins had already been removed from the penguin exhibit for the start of the Giant Ocean Tank renovation.

The new Taronga penguins joined our resident little blue penguins behind the scenes in a temporary exhibit for the duration of the renovation. We were excited to see how they would react as they were introduced to the penguin exhibit for the first time. Their introduction went very smoothly, it was almost anti-climactic. The Taronga little blues learned our feeding and cleaning routines very quickly and new and old little blues alike very quickly established their favorite hang out spots on the island.

Little blue penguins all comfy on their rock

All in all, the long awaited return of the penguins went off without a hitch and everything is back to normal.  The transition went so smoothly it almost feels like we never left.

Sometimes we meet people who are going to extraordinary lengths to protect our blue planet. Not only do these individuals make changes in their own lives, but they raise awareness about important issues facing our oceans and encourage others to make changes to help the environment. 

A little blue penguin in the Aquarium's penguin colonies

Matthieu De Wolf is a boy from Belgium. He's taken a particular interest in little blue penguins. We learned of his interest during his visit to the Aquarium this summer. In this post, he explains how he helps little blue penguins, and why.

Matthieu visited the Aquarium this summer and was able to meet Aquarium penguin biologist Caitlin Hume Photo: M. De Wolf

I became passionate about penguins when I was 11. I was looking at stuffed animals and found a penguin. Then I found a $1 penguin at a flea market at my school. I became obsessed with penguins and started collecting them. I found out more about blue penguins and that you can sponsor them.

My visit to the New England Aquarium was really great as I got to speak to a real penguinologist, Caitlin, about penguins.

Enjoying the penguin exhibit at the New England Aquarium | Photo: M. De Wolf

Something everyone should know about penguins is that some species are becoming more and more rare in the wild. People should try and stop this by taking care of the environment. What other kids can do to help penguins is to adopt them via the internet. They can also protect the environment and maybe try and make a campaign to help penguins.

Matthieu is making headlines around the world for his support of little blue penguins

I have been fundraising for a little blue penguin colony in New Zealand and enjoy working with them, they have a great program that protects the colony and their breeding program has been very successful.

Matthieu manning his table at a Christmas craft fair. Proceeds go to support little blue penguins in New Zealand Photo: M. De Wolf

Inspired by Matthieu's passion for little blue penguins? You can support little blue penguins right here in Boston! Consider sponsoring a little blue, African or rockhopper penguin or another marine animal as part of our Animal Sponsorship program. Sponsoring an animal helps with the daily cost of care—including the best possible medical treatment, food and habitat upkeep. (Pssst...Animal Sponsorships make great holiday gifts!)

You can also live blue™ to help penguins in the wild. Many penguins have been affected by climate change and a decrease in sea ice. But there are ways you can make a difference by reducing your carbon footprint, from changing a lightbulb to buying a fuel efficient car.