Magellan Penguin

Scientific Name:

Spheniscus magellanicus

Feeding Type:

Carnivorous

Range: 

Coast of Patagonia and the Falklands around the Horn to Southern Chile

Habitat: 

Rocky beaches

Diet in the Wild: 

Fish      

Description:

Magellan penguins are approximately 18 inches tall and weigh about 8 pounds. They have tightly packed feathers that keep water from their bodies and provide insulation. The bald patch around the eye regulates temperature.

Adaptation/Behavior: 

Penguins “fly” in the water because they have similar wing motions as flying birds. Their bones are denser than flying birds, allowing them to dive. Penguins have a white stomach and black backs as camouflage. When the penguin is above its prey, the white of its stomach blends in with the light from above, and when the penguin is below its prey, the black on its back blends in with the darkness of the ocean floor.

Courtship/Breeding: 

Spring is the breeding season for these penguins. Courtship involves head and body movement as well as vocalizations. 1 to 3 eggs are laid in shallow, underground burrows and hatch after incubation of 42 days. Both the male and the female care for the young.

Conservation:

Magellan penguins are at a lower risk.