King penguins are one of the "classic" species that people think of when the think of penguins. Along with Adelie penguins, and Emperor penguins they have come to represent the whole group. They are very upright, dignified and handsome birds and when they emerge from the sea pristine and glistening there can be no cleaner or more elegant creature around.

King penguins are the second largest of the penguin species, on average they are around 15kg (33lb) and 95cm (3.1ft) high. Like many penguins, fully grown but unfledged chicks can appear to be larger than the adult birds, they were sometimes known as "woolly penguins" by the early explorers as the thick brown down of the juveniles looks like wool on sheep. Some even thought they were a separate species!

King penguins have colourful feathers around their necks and heads, with they are the brightest of all the species of penguin and there is an estimated world population of 2 million breeding pairs (some estimates up to 3.2 million).

King penguins live on sub-Antarctic islands dotted around the continent from about 46° to 55° South where they form huge colonies on slopes with a nearby beach for access to the sea. King penguin colonies are occupied all the year round either by the chicks or the adults. Non-breeding birds may be found far from their home colony, particularly in the region of the Antarctic convergence and other places of upwelling where there are good concentrations of fish and squid to be found that they feed upon.