Editing Adélie penguin (section)

== Description ==
The Adélie penguin is a mid-sized bird, measuring {{convert|70|–|73|cm|in|abbr=on}} in length and weighing {{convert|3.8|to|8.2|kg|lb|abbr=on}}.{{sfn|De Roy|Jones|Cornthwaite|2014|p=204}}{{sfn|Shirihai|2002|p=64}} Although the sexes look the same, females have shorter wings and beaks and weigh significantly less.{{sfn|Shirihai|2002|p=64}} The adult is black on the head, throat and upper parts, with snowy white underparts. It has a conspicuous white {{birdgloss|eye ring}} around a black [[iris (anatomy)|iris]]. The [[beak]] is largely covered with black feathers, leaving only the tip exposed; this is primarily black, though it can show indistinct reddish-brown markings. The upper surface of the wing is black with a white trailing edge, while the underside is white with a narrow black leading edge and a small black tip. The legs and feet, which are mostly unfeathered, are pinkish.{{sfn|Shirihai|2002|p=63}}

Upon hatching, the chick is fully covered in [[down feathers]].{{sfn|De Roy|Jones|Cornthwaite|2014|p=204}} This coat of feathers is typically silvery-grey (darker on the head), though some birds are much darker overall.{{sfn|De Roy|Jones|Cornthwaite|2014|p=204}}{{sfn|Trathan|Ballard|2015|p=38}} Within 10 days, the chick moults into another set of down feathers, this time all dark smoky-grey.{{sfn|Trathan|Ballard|2015|p=38}} Once they have moulted a third time, 7–9 weeks after hatching, the immature birds are similar to adults in appearance, though they tend to be smaller with a bluer tinge to their upperparts and white (rather than black) chins and throats.{{sfn|Shirihai|2002|p=63}}{{sfn|Chappell|Morgan|Butcher|1990|p=420}} They lack the full white eye ring of the adult until they are at least a year old.{{sfn|Shirihai|2002|p=63}}

===Similar species===
The adult Adélie penguin is unlikely to be confused with any other species, but the white-throated immature bird can resemble the [[chinstrap penguin]]. However, the black on its face extends below its eyes, and it lacks a black line under the throat (the "chinstrap") that the chinstrap penguin has.{{sfn|Lowen|2011|p=196}} In addition, the bill of the chinstrap penguin is longer, and lacks the feathering that covers most of the bill of the Adélie penguin.{{sfn|Shirihai|2002|p=64}}