Crested penguin

Lore & Background

The genus contains eight extant species, including the macaroni, royal, northern rockhopper, eastern rockhopper, western rockhopper, Fiordland, Snares, and erect-crested penguins, as well as one recently extinct species, the Chatham penguin (Eudyptes warhami), which became extinct shortly after human colonisation of the Chatham Islands. Crested penguins breed on Subantarctic islands and exhibit more complex breeding displays and behaviours than other penguin species. Both parents take shifts incubating eggs and young. All species lay two eggs but almost always raise only one young per breeding season. The first egg laid is substantially smaller than the second, a phenomenon called egg-size dimorphism, most extreme in the macaroni penguin where the first egg averages only 60% the size of the second. The reason for this remains unknown, though several theories have been proposed, including that the genus was evolving toward a one-egg clutch. Experiments have shown that the smaller eggs can produce viable chicks only 7% lighter at fledging. Recently, brooding royal and erect-crested penguins have been reported to tip the smaller eggs out as the second is laid.

Reader's Guide

Crested penguins are significant for their distinctive appearance and unique reproductive strategy, which has puzzled ornithologists for decades. The egg-size dimorphism, where the first egg is substantially smaller than the second, is a rare phenomenon among birds and remains unexplained, with theories ranging from evolutionary transition to physiological constraints. Their complex calls and breeding displays set them apart from other penguin species. The genus also provides insight into penguin evolution, as mitochondrial and nuclear DNA evidence suggests they split from the ancestors of the yellow-eyed penguin around 15 million years ago, with species diverging about 8 million years ago. A fossil genus, Madrynornis, has been identified as their closest known relative, dating to about 10 million years ago. The extinction of the Chatham penguin following human colonisation highlights the vulnerability of island species. The taxonomic uncertainty—with species counts varying from four to eight—reflects ongoing debates in ornithology, particularly regarding rockhopper penguin splits. Overall, crested penguins are a key group for studying evolutionary biology, reproductive strategies, and conservation of subantarctic ecosystems.

Did You Know?

• The name Eudyptes comes from Ancient Greek words meaning 'true diver.'
• Crested penguins lay two eggs but almost always raise only one young per breeding season.
• The first egg laid is substantially smaller than the second, a phenomenon most extreme in the macaroni penguin where the first egg averages only 60% the size of the second.
• A recently extinct species, the Chatham penguin (Eudyptes warhami), became extinct shortly after human colonisation of the Chatham Islands.

A Legacy of Penguin Exhibits

The penguin presence at Lincoln Park Zoo stretches back decades, rooted in the Kovler Penguin-Seabird House that operated for roughly thirty years before its December 2011 closure. That facility housed rockhopper penguins, king penguins, common murres, and puffins alongside one another, representing a mixed seabird collection typical of mid-to-late twentieth-century zoo design. When the building's structural condition deteriorated to a point that raised safety concerns, the zoo made the difficult decision to shut it down, a move that drew vocal pushback from Chicago residents who had fond memories of visiting the penguins. In its place, the zoo planned a new West Gate entrance featuring a children's train and the Regenstein Macaque Forest. The penguin collection itself, however, would find a new home. In March 2014, the zoo announced plans to incorporate a dedicated African penguin habitat into the rebuilt Robert R. McCormick Bear Habitat. This new space, which opened as the Robert and Mayari Pritzker Penguin Cove in late 2016, marked a significant evolution in how the zoo presented its penguin collection to the public.

The Kovler Closure and Community Response

The December 2011 shutdown of the Kovler Penguin-Seabird House represented one of the more emotionally charged changes in the zoo's modern history. After approximately thirty years of operation, the building that had sheltered rockhopper penguins, king penguins, common murres, and puffins was closed due to concerns about its deteriorating structural condition. The decision was not made lightly, as the facility had become a beloved destination for families and school groups visiting the zoo. Chicago residents expressed strong public outcry over the loss, reflecting how deeply a single exhibit can become woven into a community's sense of place and shared memory. The zoo responded by quickly announcing replacement plans: a newly renovated West Gate entrance would feature a children's train, and the Regenstein Macaque Forest would introduce Japanese macaques in a state-of-the-art habitat with a hot spring, opening in fall 2014. While these new attractions addressed the need for fresh experiences, they also signaled a broader shift in the zoo's approach to exhibit design, moving away from aging structures toward purpose-built, species-focused environments.

Designing for Penguins: The Pritzker Penguin Cove

The Robert and Mayari Pritzker Penguin Cove, which opened in late 2016, represented a deliberate departure from the enclosed, mixed-species seabird house that had previously housed the zoo's penguins. Announced in March 2014 as part of the rebuilt Robert R. McCormick Bear Habitat, the new penguin space was designed to be fully outdoors, a critical choice that allowed the African penguins—originally from the tropical coasts of Africa—to endure both Chicago's harsh winters and its hot summers. The facility was sized to accommodate over a dozen penguins and included a behind-the-scenes breeding area, reflecting the zoo's commitment to not just displaying animals but supporting their reproductive success. The inclusion of African penguins as a new species for the zoo marked an expansion of the collection beyond the rockhopper and king penguins of the earlier Kovler era.

Penguins Within a Living Collection

What distinguishes it from many peers is its commitment to free public admission, a policy that has made the penguin cove and every other exhibit accessible to all Chicagoans regardless of income. The zoo holds accreditation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and, since 2019, also operates as an accredited arboretum. The penguin collection, whether in the form of the former Kovler seabird house or the current Pritzker Penguin Cove, benefits from this institutional framework of educational mission, public access, and professional standards that has guided the zoo's operations for well over a century.