20/08/2025
Experts discovered an ultra-rare king penguin that's gold.
A rare genetic mutation resulted in the stunning bird having such odd colors.
Amid a sea of 120,000 king penguins on a remote South Georgia island, one golden figure stole the show.
Wildlife photographer Yves Adams captured the breathtaking moment in 2019 when a penguin, glowing in rich yellow instead of the typical tuxedo black-and-white, waddled straight into frame.
Scientists believe the bird has leucism, a rare genetic mutation that suppresses melaninâthe pigment responsible for dark colorationâwhile leaving yellow pigments like spheniscin untouched. The result? A luminous, almost mythical golden penguin that defies expectations and dazzles the eye.
Although striking, this color mutation isn't just cosmetic. In the wild, a penguinâs plumage is critical for blending into its environment, attracting mates, and protecting skin from UV rays. While leucistic penguins retain normal eyesight and functionâunlike albino animals that often suffer from serious disadvantagesâtheir altered coloring may still affect survival odds. Even so, this golden bird made it far enough to meet researchers face-to-face, as if aware of its destined fame. With odds of spotting such a penguin estimated at 1 in 30,000, its appearance remains one of natureâs most brilliant surprises.
Gamillo, Elizabeth. "Rare Yellow Penguin Photographed for the First Time." Smithsonian Magazine, 23 February 2021.