An Adélie penguin (<em>Pygoscelis adeliae</em>) 200 km from the sea

Sebastien Descamps; Anca Cristea; Geir Ove Aspnes

doi:10.33265/polar.v45.13912

Sebastien Descamps Research Department, Norwegian Polar Institute, Fram Centre, Tromsø, Norway
Anca Cristea Environmental Management and Mapping Department, Norwegian Polar Institute, Fram Centre, Tromsø, Norway
Geir Ove Aspnes Operations and Logistics Department, Norwegian Polar Institute, Forskningspark, Longyearbyen, Svalbard, Norway

DOI: https://doi.org/10.33265/polar.v45.13912

Keywords: Avian navigation, bird orientation, vagrants, Antarctica

Abstract

This brief note reports an observation of an Adélie penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) 200 km from the open sea, at Troll Research Station, in Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica, on the morning of 5 January 2026. The bird, which appeared to be in good condition, was not interfered with and was last seen walking away from the station in the afternoon. This observation and previous reports of penguin signs so far inland are rare and raise questions about how these birds navigate.

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An Adélie penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) 200 km from the sea

Abstract

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