Humboldt Penguin

The Humboldt Penguin lives along the arid, rocky coastlines of Peru and Chile, where it is sustained by the cold, nutrient-rich waters of the Humboldt Current for which it is named. It shares the classic banded look of its close relatives, with black upperparts, a white underside, and a black band sweeping across the chest and down the flanks.

A distinguishing feature is the patch of bare pink skin at the base of its stout bill, used to help regulate body temperature in its sun-baked desert-coast habitat. Unlike penguins of icy polar regions, Humboldt Penguins breed in a landscape of sand, rock, and guano deposits along one of the driest coastlines on Earth.

The species has faced significant historical pressure from the removal of guano deposits, which destroyed traditional nesting burrows, along with periodic food shortages during El Niño events.

Key field marks

• A single black band across the chest and down the flanks, narrower than the Magellanic Penguin's band
• Bare pink skin at the base of the bill
• Black upperparts, white underparts, black bill with a pale patch

Similar species

• Magellanic Penguin is very similar but lacks the pink bare skin patch at the bill base and has a slightly broader chest band; the two species' ranges barely meet in southern Chile.
• African Penguin has scattered black spots on the belly and pink patches above the eyes rather than at the bill base.

Humboldt Penguins are found along the Pacific coasts of Peru and Chile, in a narrow band influenced by the cold, upwelling Humboldt Current, which supports the abundant small fish they depend on. They nest on rocky shores, cliffs, and islands, historically favoring burrows dug into thick guano deposits.

The species is largely non-migratory, remaining near its breeding range year-round, though it may range farther in search of food during periods of reduced fish abundance such as El Niño events.

Voice

Humboldt Penguins give loud, braying calls similar to other banded penguins, used at colonies for pair bonding and territorial signaling.

Feeding

They dive to catch small schooling fish such as anchovies and sardines, along with squid, foraging in the cold, productive waters of the Humboldt Current close to their colonies.

Nesting and breeding

Pairs traditionally burrowed into deep guano deposits, though many now nest in rock crevices or scrapes due to historical guano removal. They typically lay two eggs, with both parents sharing incubation and feeding duties, and breeding can occur at various times of year depending on local conditions.