First observations of emperor penguins on Horseshoe Island, Antarctica

Abstract

This note reports observations of two moulting emperor penguins (Aptenodytes forsteri) on Horseshoe Island, West Antarctica, during the Seventh Turkish Antarctic Expedition in February 2023. This is the first time this species has been documented on this island. Emperor penguins largely depend on fast-ice to breed and moult. The Antarctic Peninsula hosts few emperor penguin colonies. Horseshoe Island has become one of the northernmost points along the western Antarctic Peninsula where emperor penguins are documented to moult.

Keywords

• aptenodytes forsteri
• sea ice
• antarctic peninsula
• maguerite island
• moult
• ice-dependent species