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What the sources say

King PenguinAptenodytes patagonicus

Every figure, record and mechanism on the King Penguin profile was written from a source, and this is the working table behind it: 41 claims checked word for word against these sources. The left column is what the page says. The right column is the source's own words, copied, not paraphrased; a ... marks a cut and[brackets] an insertion. Open any source and check it yourself.

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Source
01

Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan

Aptenodytes patagonicus (king penguin). Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan.

The page sayssecond largest of all penguins
The source saysKing penguins are the second largest of all penguin species.
The page saysSub-Antarctic islands mainly surrounding Antarctica, such as South Georgia, Crozet and Kerguelen
The source sayscolonies are mainly located on islands surrounding Antarctica. Islands include Crozet, Falkland, Heard, Kerguelen, Macquarie, Prince Edward, South Georgia and South Sandwich.
The page saysCarries its single egg on its feet for about 54 days
The source saysThe female lays a single, greenish-white egg in November or December. This is transferred to the male penguin's feet and is incubated for approximately 54 days
The page saysSecond in Size Only to the Emperor
The source saysKing penguins are the second largest of all penguin species.Note: the emperor as the larger one is cornell-king-penguin: "The King Penguin is a large bird, but smaller and slimmer than the Emperor Penguin."
The page saysit is the second largest of all penguin species
The source saysKing penguins are the second largest of all penguin species.
The page saysAdults stand 85 to 95 centimetres tall and weigh between 9.3 and 17.3 kilograms, averaging 11.8 kilograms.
The source saysTheir documented height ranges from 85 to 95 cm and weight is between 9.3 and 17.3 kg. Average adult weight has been found to be 11.8 kg.
The page saysIts head is nearly black, with a spoon-shaped orange patch on each side
The source saysAdult king penguins have a dark, nearly black head with orange to orange-yellow, spoon-shaped spots on either side of the head
The page saysa stripe on its lower beak reflects ultraviolet light, which is thought to signal sexual maturity, health or social standing
The source saysThis bill has a stripe on the lower mandible that ranges in color from pinkish-red to orange-yellow and exhibits ultraviolet (UV) reflectance. ... it is thought to signal sexual maturity, health and/or social standing.
The page saysYoung birds do not reach full adult colouring until they are three years old, and chicks are simply dark brown before their first molt.
The source saysJuvenile king penguins are similar to adults, but their coloration isn't as vivid. They do not reach full adult coloration until three years of age. Prior to the first molt, the chicks are simply dark brown.
The page saysKing penguins breed mainly on sub-Antarctic islands such as South Georgia, the Falklands, Crozet and Kerguelen, with no colonies found south of 60 degrees S latitude
The source sayscolonies are mainly located on islands surrounding Antarctica. Islands include Crozet, Falkland, Heard, Kerguelen, Macquarie, Prince Edward, South Georgia and South Sandwich. Although no colonies have been found south of latitude 60 degrees S
The page saysThey have been known to travel up to 500 kilometres from their colonies to feed.
The source saysThey have been known to travel up to 500 km from their breeding grounds to forage
The page saysA king penguin is one of only two penguin species that do not build a nest.
The source saysKing penguins are one of only two penguin species that do not build nests.
The page saysThe female lays a single egg, which is transferred to the male's feet and incubated for about 54 days under a warm fold of belly skin, with both parents trading shifts of five to 22 days.
The source saysThe female lays a single, greenish-white egg in November or December. This is transferred to the male penguin's feet and is incubated for approximately 54 days under a pouch of belly skin that keeps it at the penguin's internal body temperature. ... the partners take turns in incubating the egg, with shifts ranging from 5 to 22 days.
The page saysBy the end of his first shift, a father has typically lost 30% of his body weight, and males nearing a critical mass of about 10 kilograms must choose between abandoning the egg or holding out for the mother's return.
The source saysBy the end of their first incubation shift the males have typically lost 30 percent of their body weight. A minimum body mass of 10 kg is considered to be a critical mass for male king penguins. When they are approaching 10 kg, the males must choose whether to abandon the egg or to continue waiting for the female to return and relieve them.
The page saysRaising one chick to independence takes 14 to 16 months. Successful parents do not start again until their chick has fledged, so they begin the next season late and usually fail, but that failure lets them breed earlier the year after.
The source saysBirth to independence takes 14 to 16 months. ... Successful parents do not begin their next breeding cycle until their chick has successfully fledged. This causes a successful breeding pair to begin the next season late. The outcome is usually a failed cycle because an egg laid after December typically is not successful. However, this failure allows them to breed earlier the following season.Note: "so" mirrors "This causes a successful breeding pair to begin the next season late"; "usually fail" is "The outcome is usually a failed cycle"
The page saysMolt is when a king penguin grows new feathers, a month-long stage that opens each breeding cycle for both parents.
The source saysTheir cycle beings with a 1-month molting stage for both parents, which is complete by the end of October.Note: quote reproduces ADW's own typo ("beings" for "begins") verbatim; "grows new feathers" matches fasting-1988: "avian molt involves the utilization of amino acids for synthesis of new feathers"
The page saysKing penguin colonies are noisy, and with no nest or landmark to meet at, parents call to locate their chicks.
The source saysDue to the noisy environment of king penguin colonies, adults repeatedly call out 3 to 7 syllables of varying volumes with two frequencies to locate chicks. ... The parental call is thought to be learned during the first five weeks of life and is important because of the lack of nests and landmarks in the king penguins' habitats.
The page saysThe calls carry two frequencies at once, made by the syrinx, a two-part voice organ whose halves each produce sound independently.
The source saysThe primary form of communication in king penguins is a two-voice system that is produced by the syrinx, a two-part organ located where the bronchi join. Each part produces sound independently.
The page saysChicks are thought to pick out the lower of the two frequencies, which carries farther through the noise, and to learn their parent's call in their first five weeks of life.
The source saysadults repeatedly call out 3 to 7 syllables of varying volumes with two frequencies to locate chicks. The chicks are thought to identify the calls by the lower of the two frequencies because they transmit farther in the seeming chaos of many adults calling at once. ... The parental call is thought to be learned during the first five weeks of life
The page saysAntarctic and sub-Antarctic fur seals, leopard seals and killer whales prey on adults, while brown skuas and giant petrels take chicks.
The source saysAntarctic fur seals, sub-Antarctic fur seals, leopard seals, and killer whales regularly prey on adult king penguins. Also, brown skuas and giant petrels prey on king penguin chicks.
The page saysKing penguins have a lower rate of staying with the same partner than smaller penguin species. Nobody knows for sure why, but fat storage is one likely explanation. A bird that starts building up fat too early becomes an easier target for predators, and one that waits too long risks missing its mate's return to the colony, so a pair that doesn't arrive together can split up or delay breeding.
The source saysKing penguins have a lower rate of monogamy than smaller penguin species. Currently, there is no definitive answer as to why this occurs; however, two explanations have merit: 1) mates not arriving to the colony at the same time, and 2) the amount of fat the penguin has stored. Fat storage plays a role in the low monogamy rate because if the penguins begin storing fat too early they become more vulnerable to predators. If they begin storing fat too late, they may not return to the colony at the same time as their mate. If both mates do not arrive at the colony at the same time, breeding can be delayed or a new mate may be chosen.Note: "partner" is a plain-language stand-in for "mate"/"monogamy"; "so" mirrors the source's own "if both mates do not arrive... breeding can be delayed"
The page saysweightKg: 11.8
The source saysAverage adult weight has been found to be 11.8 kg.
The page saystags: penguin
The source saysKing penguins are the second largest of all penguin species.
The page saystags: antarctic
The source sayscolonies are mainly located on islands surrounding Antarctica.
The page sayswhose call carries two frequencies together: each half of its two-part syrinx produces sound independently
The source saysThe primary form of communication in king penguins is a two-voice system that is produced by the syrinx, a two-part organ located where the bronchi join. Each part produces sound independently.

Source
02

AnAge: The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database, Human Ageing Genomic Resources

AnAge entry for Aptenodytes patagonicus. AnAge: The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database, Human Ageing Genomic Resources.

The page saysA banded wild king penguin has been recorded living to at least 27 years old.
The source saysMaximum longevity 27 years (wild) ... One banded individual was found to be at least 27 years old.

Source
03

Martínez, Jutglar & Garcia 2020

Martínez, Jutglar & Garcia (2020). King Penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus). Birds of the World.

The page sayssmaller and slimmer than the only other member of its genus, the emperor penguin
The source saysThe King Penguin is a large bird, but smaller and slimmer than the Emperor Penguin.Note: "only other member of its genus" is adw-king-penguin's classification: "Genus Aptenodytes emperor penguin and king penguin"
The page saysthey tend to keep north of the pack ice, where the related emperor penguin takes over further south
The source saysKing Penguins are circumpolar birds of the subantarctic zone ... They are fish eaters, and tend to keep north of the ice pack, replacing the related Emperor Penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) in these lower latitudes.
The page sayswhere they tend to keep north of the pack ice to fish
The source saysThey are fish eaters, and tend to keep north of the ice pack
The page saysSub-Antarctic penguin with an orange neck patch reaching its upper breast
The source saysKing Penguins are circumpolar birds of the subantarctic zone ... showing a gorgeous orange neck patch that extends to the upper breast

Source
04

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020

Aptenodytes patagonicus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T22697748A184637776.

The page saysLeast Concern
The source saysIUCN Red List category: Least Concern (LC). Aptenodytes patagonicus Miller, 1778, IUCN taxon 22697748.Note: read through GBIF's copy of the Red List per docs/fact-check.md; category matches stats.conservationStatus

Source
05

Kooyman et al. 1982

Kooyman et al. (1982). Diving Depths and Energy Requirements of King Penguins. Science.

The page saysa deep diver: tracked birds have gone past 240 meters
The source sayshalf of 2595 dives of three king penguins were more than 50 meters and two dives exceeded 240 meters.
The page saystracked birds have dived past 240 meters
The source sayshalf of 2595 dives of three king penguins were more than 50 meters and two dives exceeded 240 meters.Note: ADW's 322 m / 10 min / 12 km/h were cut in review: an undated secondary account, while the pack's papers give different figures (two of 2,595 dives past 240 m; 95% of Crozet dives under 6 min)
The page saysTracking three king penguins over four- to eight-day trips at sea, researchers logged 2,595 dives: half went past 50 metres, and two passed 240 metres.
The source saysDuring 4- to 8-day periods at sea, half of 2595 dives of three king penguins were more than 50 meters and two dives exceeded 240 meters.

Source
06

Culik et al. 1996

Culik et al. (1996). Diving Energetics in King Penguins (Aptenodytes Patagonicus). Journal of Experimental Biology.

The page saysTracking devices on king penguins at the Crozet Islands showed that 95% of dives lasted less than 6 minutes, and about two-thirds lasted less than 4. At other times the birds dived over and over for up to 5 hours straight, with each dive lasting around 5 minutes and roughly a minute and a half at the surface in between.
The source saysDive duration in wild king penguins ... determined at Ile de la Possession, Crozet Archipelago ... 95 % of dives were less than 6 min long and 66 % of dives were less than 4 min long. ... or dive regularly (for up to 5 h) with long dive durations (5 min) and constant interdive surface intervals (1.5 min).

Source
07

Adams & Klages 1987

Adams & Klages (1987). Seasonal variation in the diet of the king penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) at sub‐Antarctic Marion Island. Journal of Zoology.

The page saysMyctophid lanternfish, squid, and the occasional crustacean
The source saysFish accounted for 87% by wet mass, 75% by numbers and 69% by reconstituted mass. ... Squid comprised most of the remainder with crustaceans forming less than 1% of the diet by numbers. ... the most abundant being three species of myctophid fish
The page saysAt Marion Island, fish made up 87% of what king penguins ate by weight, mostly small lanternfish, with squid filling most of the rest and crustaceans barely registering.
The source saysThe diet of the king penguin Aptenodytes patagonicus at Marion Island was examined ... Fish accounted for 87% by wet mass ... Squid comprised most of the remainder with crustaceans forming less than 1% of the diet by numbers. ... the most abundant being three species of myctophid fish
The page saysAt Marion Island, fish made up about 68% of what king penguins ate in winter but rose to almost 100% in summer, probably because the fish were easier to find. Three small lanternfish species and a squid called Kondakovia longimana were the most common prey, and a meal ran from 8.5 to 12.6% of an adult's body mass.
The source saysTheir proportional importance by wet mass increased from 68% during winter to almost 100% in summer and probably reflects a real increase in their local availability. ... the most abundant being three species of myctophid fish, Krefftichthys anderssoni, Protomyctophum tenisonì and Electrona carlsbergi, and a squid Kondakovia longimana. ... Meal size varied from 8.5–12.6% of adult massNote: "probably because" carries over the source's own hedge ("probably reflects... availability")
The page saystags: carnivore
The source saysFish accounted for 87% by wet mass, 75% by numbers and 69% by reconstituted mass.

Source
08

Jouventin et al. 2005

Jouventin et al. (2005). Ultraviolet Beak Spots in King and Emperor Penguins. The Condor.

The page saysResearchers found ultraviolet peaks on the beak spots of king and emperor penguins that are missing in juveniles, and among free-ranging king penguins, birds that had just paired up showed higher UV reflectance than ones still courting, suggesting the spot may play a role in pairing and signal sexual maturity.
The source sayswe found UV peaks of reflectance in two large Aptenodytes species, King (A. patagonicus) and Emperor (A. forsteri) Penguins. ... they were lacking in juveniles ... measurements of free-ranging King Penguins showed that recently paired birds had higher UV reflectance than courting ones, suggesting possible roles of UV beak spots in pairing and as an indicator of sexual maturity.

Source
09

Cherel, Leloup & Le Maho 1988

Cherel, Leloup & Le Maho (1988). Fasting in king penguin. II. Hormonal and metabolic changes during molt. American Journal of Physiology-Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology.

The page saysA study of seven molting birds found their body mass fell by 58% over 41 days of fasting, from an average of 18 kilograms.
The source saysHormonal and biochemical changes were studied in seven molting king penguins. Their initial body mass was 18 kg. It decreased by 58% over 41 days of fasting.

How the table was made: a writer drafted the profile from these sources and logged each claim with its quote, a reviewer with nothing but this table checked every sentence said no more than its quote, and a script confirmed each quote appears word for word in the source. The method is in the site'sAbout page.