VIDEO: Mickey The Macaroni Penguin Celebrates 35th Birthday With Fishy Ice Cake

90.5 WESA | By Jared Murphy

Published November 21, 2019 at 2:46 PM EST

1 of 3

Mickey, 35, is ranked as one of the oldest living penguins in the United States. "Mickey's still very active in the exhibit, she doesn't let the younger birds push her around," said aquarist Jessica Ries.

Jared Murphy / 90.5 WESA

2 of 3

Mickey checks out her birthday cake, which is made of smelt, capelin fish and crushed up scallops. In the wild, penguins would live 10-15 years, but in captivity they don’t have predators and receive good vet care, according to zoo staff.";

Jared Murphy / 90.5 WESA

3 of 3

Macaroni Penguins are named after the 18th century fashion style where men wore bright yellow colored feathers in their hats, which is similar to the feathers on the penguins’ heads. ";

Jared Murphy / 90.5 WESA

Mickey the macaroni penguin from the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium celebrated her 35^th birthday Wednesday. The zoo is home to seven macaroni penguins. She's one of the oldest of her species in the United States and to celebrate Mickey’s birthday, zookeepers made her an ice block cake filled with smelt and capelin fish.

Mickey arrived in Pittsburgh in 2003, and shares a birthday with Mickey Mouse, her namesake.