Magellanic Penguin

The Magellanic penguin, a South American native, is a medium-sized bird standing 61–76 cm tall and weighing between 2.7 and 6.5 kg. Males are typically larger than females, and both sexes lose weight during the demanding parenting period. These penguins are characterized by their black backs and white abdomens, with two distinctive black bands between the head and breast. Their heads are black with a striking white border that encircles the eye, ear-coverts, and chin, meeting at the throat. The species can live up to 25 years in the wild, and even longer in captivity, with a record of 40 years at the San Francisco Zoo.

Identification Tips

Adult Magellanic penguins have a unique pattern with two black bands and a horseshoe-shaped lower band on their front. Their feet, which start with a blotched pattern in youth, become solid black by around ten years of age. Juveniles display a grey-blue back and a lighter chest. The species is known for its rigid wings, adapted for swimming rather than flying.

Habitat

These penguins breed along the coastal regions of Patagonia, including Argentina, Chile, and the Falkland Islands. They prefer nesting in burrows or under bushes in areas with a high density of nests.

Distribution

Magellanic penguins are found breeding in coastal Patagonia and the Falkland Islands, with migrations reaching Brazil and Uruguay. Vagrants have been spotted as far afield as El Salvador, Antarctica's Avian Island, Australia, and New Zealand.

Behaviour

Magellanic penguins are social birds, often hunting in large groups. They are known for their fidelity, mating with the same partner each year and reusing the same burrow. After the breeding season, they migrate north to feed in the waters off Peru and Brazil.

Song & Calls

The females can recognize their mates by their calls alone, a vital ability for reuniting at the crowded breeding colonies.

Breeding

The breeding season starts in September and extends to late February or March. Magellanic penguins lay two eggs, with incubation lasting 39–42 days. Both parents share the responsibility of incubation and chick care. The chicks are fed every two to three days, and both are typically raised to adulthood.

Diet and Feeding

Magellanic penguins dine on small pelagic fish, hagfish, cuttlefish, squid, krill, and other crustaceans. They have a salt-excreting gland to handle the ingestion of seawater. Adults dive to depths of 20–50 m to forage, with similar diving patterns observed in males and females during the breeding season.

Conservation status

The Magellanic penguin is currently classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, though the population is decreasing.

Threats

These penguins face threats from oil spills, climate change, and changes in prey availability. Natural predators include sea lions, giant petrels, leopard seals, and historically the warrah. Pumas also pose a significant threat, particularly in certain regions of Patagonia. Human interactions, such as tourism, can cause stress and harm to chicks.

Conservation

Efforts are underway to create marine protected areas near the largest Magellanic breeding colonies to improve their breeding success and ensure a stable food supply.