Rare sighting: Scientists captured images of a pitch-black royal penguin (photo).

Photographer Iv Adams arrived in St. Andrews Bay on the southern Atlantic Ocean this month after a colleague informed him about a sighting of an exceptionally rare penguin. Adams immediately rushed to the beach to capture images of the melanistic king penguin with its unusual coloration, as reported by Daily Mail.

Typically, king penguins have bright white bellies and yellow feathers around their necks, but this instance was different. Researchers noted that the bird's plumage was entirely black. According to Iv Adams from Belgium, he was extremely pleased to photograph such a rare bird.

The bird was initially spotted by the expedition leader, who then informed the photographer. Researchers stated that this king penguin is a significant rarity — one among a colony of hundreds of thousands of penguins exhibiting such a color morph.

Adams mentioned that he tried to track the bird as soon as the penguin came ashore from the surf. The photographer had very little time, as the penguin was heading towards the colony, and researchers did not want to disturb the birds when they were gathered together.

Fortunately, Adams managed to take several photos of the penguin isolated from the colony before it joined the group.

Researchers note that melanism is rarely observed in birds and mammals. Previous reports indicated that melanism has been seen in other species, but scientists had not documented it in king penguins.

The penguin's appearance is due to a genetic mutation that causes an excess of melanin, resulting in its feathers appearing completely black. Examples of black penguins are so rare that little research has been conducted on the subject.

Melanism also poses a threat to birds, as completely black penguins are more visible to predators on ice and in water — their typically white bellies actually help them blend in while swimming.

According to Adams, he and his colleagues were likely the first to have the fortune of encountering a completely black penguin. The expedition season in South Georgia had just begun, and their boat was only the third to dock at the island.

Researchers also emphasize that encountering a completely black penguin is indeed a stroke of luck. Typically, one encounters spotted or partially melanistic birds, but a fully color-altered penguin is extremely rare. From a distance, the black color appears very dark, but as you get closer, some markings on its neck and belly look metallic green.

Interestingly, scientists also observed that the other penguins fully accepted this unique bird, despite its coloration. Observations also suggest that the penguin did not differ in size from its peers.