Which penguin species is the largest living penguin by height and weight?

The emperor penguin is the largest living penguin species by both height and weight.

Adult emperors commonly stand about 100–130 centimetres tall and weigh roughly 22–45 kilograms, although body mass changes substantially with season. Their large size helps reduce heat loss in the severe Antarctic environment.

Emperor penguins breed on sea ice around Antarctica during the continent’s winter. Unlike most penguins, they do not build nests; the male balances a single egg on his feet beneath a fold of abdominal skin while the female feeds at sea.

The king penguin is the emperor’s closest living relative and has a similar colourful pattern, but it is smaller and breeds in subantarctic regions. Emperor penguins are also distinct from the smaller Adelie, gentoo and chinstrap species found farther north.