Only 1 in 30,000 Penguins are Golden. Here’s Why.

Golden penguins are a super interesting variety of penguins, and they are rarely ever captured on camera. As seen on this post by @bonkersforanimals, golden penguins appear extremely different compared to any other species of penguin. They have their own unique palette of colors. While their unique colors are fun to look at, the reason for their coloration might not be what you expect.

Golden Penguins are Extremely Rare

Golden penguins are extremely rare to come across, often surprising researchers and biologists at first glance. Given the rarity of these penguins, there is a lack of statistics on population numbers or rates of occurrence. However, wildlife photographer Yves Adams stated in 2019 that in their expedition, they saw one golden penguin out of 120,000. This is a 0.00083% chance! Given their rarity, it was no surprise that Adams and the team on the expedition were quick to take the amazing shots seen in the post.

What Makes Them Golden?

Golden penguins are often referred to as Leucistic penguins, referring to the condition that gives the penguin in the post its unique colors. Leucism is a genetic condition that results in only partial pigmentation loss. Leucism affects the skin, scales, and feathers of animals in different areas of its body. This leads to either a paler or white complexion. Leucism is seen in other wildlife as well, but is very noticeable in bird species since they have a larger variety of colors.

Leucism is not albinism, however, which is a common misconception. Albinism refers to the complete loss of pigmentation throughout the body, resulting in a completely white complexion. The form of leucism seen in the penguins in the post is what gives it its unique yellow color. By only having partial removal of the pigment in the penguins’ feathers, there is a yellow/gold tint to the feathers that is not seen anywhere else. A unique chemical found in penguins called spheniscin gives different species of penguins their yellow attributes. The chemical is seen more clearly in the penguin in the post above. Leucism occurs in birds at around 1 in 30,000. Therefore, your chances of seeing a golden penguin are pretty slim.

What Species Can Be Golden?

Given that leucism is not unique to a single species, all different species of penguins have the potential to be yellow. Penguins with leucism have an easier time compared to other penguins with albinism. This is because leucism does not affect the eyes. Albinism can make everyday necessities like hunting and eating harder for penguins due to blindness, something that penguins with leucism do not have. This means that these penguins can live a full life with — or perhaps despite — their unique colors!