Magellanic Penguin

The Magellanic Penguin is a medium-sized banded penguin found along the coasts of southern South America and the Falkland Islands. It has black upperparts and a white underside crossed by a single horseshoe-shaped black band running from the chest down each flank, distinguishing it from its closest relatives.

Named for the explorer Ferdinand Magellan, whose expedition first documented the species, this penguin forms some of the largest breeding colonies of any penguin species, with certain sites hosting hundreds of thousands of nesting pairs.

Magellanic Penguins are notably vocal, braying loudly at their burrow entrances, which has led to the same "Jackass Penguin" nickname sometimes applied to their African relative.

Key field marks

• A single black band curving across the upper chest and down the flanks
• White stripe running from above the eye, around the black cheek, to the throat
• Black bill, pinkish-grey legs and feet
• No black spots scattered on the belly, unlike the African Penguin

Similar species

• Humboldt Penguin looks very similar but has a pink patch of bare skin at the base of the bill and a thinner black band; ranges barely overlap.
• African Penguin has a black band plus scattered black belly spots and pink patches above the eyes, and occurs only in Africa.

Magellanic Penguins breed along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of Argentina and Chile, as well as on the Falkland Islands, nesting in burrows dug into soil or under shrubs in coastal steppe habitat. Some of the largest colonies, such as Punta Tombo in Argentina, host enormous numbers of breeding pairs each austral spring and summer.

After breeding, many birds migrate north along the South American coast, with some individuals traveling as far as southern Brazil in the non-breeding season, before returning south to breed again.

Voice

Magellanic Penguins give loud, braying calls at their burrow entrances, especially during courtship and territorial disputes, audible throughout dense colonies.

Feeding

They pursue small schooling fish, squid, and krill in the nutrient-rich coastal waters near their colonies, diving to moderate depths and sometimes traveling considerable distances on foraging trips during chick-rearing.

Nesting and breeding

Pairs dig nesting burrows in soft coastal soil or shelter under bushes, returning to the same burrow and mate in subsequent years. They typically lay two eggs, and both parents share incubation and chick feeding duties over the breeding season.