Meet the Macaroni penguins, yes, they're really called that! These dapper birds got their name from 18th-century British explorers who thought their flamboyant yellow crests resembled the outrageous wigs worn by "macaronis" (fashionable young men who'd returned from Italy with over-the-top style). The term comes from the same place as "Yankee Doodle" stuck a feather in his cap and called it "macaroni", which meant fancy, flashy, and a bit ridiculous.
But there's nothing ridiculous about their numbers: Macaroni penguins are the most abundant penguin species on Earth, with around 18 million of them ruling the sub-Antarctic islands. With their punk-rock crests, red eyes, and serious expressions, they look like they're perpetually in the middle of making very important decisions.
photographed on expedition to Antarctica in January, 2020.
