Eight-Year Misgendering Corrected for King Penguin with New Name

A penguin has received a new designation following eight years of being incorrectly identified by gender. Birdland Park and Gardens, located in Bourton-on-the-Water, Gloucestershire, announced that the 10-year-old king penguin previously known as “Maggie” is now named Magnus. This change occurred after the penguin displayed unanticipated interactions with another male king penguin. Staff members at the park observed “Maggie” initiating interaction with Frank, leading to the development of “suspicions grew,” according to a park spokesperson. Birdland subsequently submitted one of Magnus’ feathers for DNA analysis, which verified the penguin’s male sex. Magnus originally arrived at Birdland in 2016, having come from Denmark. His transfer was part of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria ex-situ programme (EAZA EEP). After becoming “well” established, he garnered the attention of Frank. This attraction in the Cotswolds houses England’s sole collection of king penguins, a species recognized as the second largest globally, surpassed only by the emperor penguin.