What is a Magellanic penguin?

The Magellanic penguin ( Spheniscus magellanicus ) is a penguin species marked by a broad crescent of white feathers from above each eye to the chin, a horseshoe-shaped band of black feathers across the chest and abdomen, and a small region of pink flesh on the face. These penguins are mid-sized, with adults averaging about 70 cm in length and weighing 4 to 4.7 kg. They eat fish, krill, and cephalopods, often diving 75–90 meters to hunt. Magellanic penguins nest in colonies in coastal forests, grasslands, and islands, with breeding pairs generally staying monogamous. They prefer to nest in burrows or under bushes, and both parents incubate the eggs. The species is listed as near threatened, facing threats such as oil pollution, competition with fisheries, and climate-related disruptions.

Where do Magellanic penguins live?

Magellanic penguins inhabit the Falkland Islands and various nearshore islands along the Pacific and Atlantic coasts of southern South America. They can also be found as far afield as Peru, Brazil, Australia, New Zealand, and the Antarctic Peninsula. Magellanic colonies nest in habitats such as coastal forests, grasslands, offshore islands, and rocky headlands. Breeding pairs construct burrows in deep soil under tussocks and tall grasses or create nests under bushes and in rocky areas. The Falkland Islands are home to several million penguins, mainly rockhopper, gentoo, and Magellanic penguins.

How do Magellanic penguins care for their young?

Magellanic penguin pairs are generally monogamous and may produce up to four eggs per year. They construct burrows or nests where the female lays two eggs, with both parents taking turns incubating them for about 40 days. For the first month, the chicks stay in their nests as their parents hunt for food, feeding them at least once a day. Magellanic chicks don’t usually gather in groups like other penguin species. The fledging period lasts 60-120 days, depending on available food resources. Foxes, rats, and felines also prey on young Magellanic penguins.

What are some unique features of Magellanic penguins?

The Magellanic penguin ( Spheniscus magellanicus ) is a species known for a few distinctive features. These penguins have a crescent of white feathers stretching from above the eyes to the chin and a horseshoe-shaped band of black feathers across the chest and abdomen. They also have a region of pink flesh on their face. Magellanic penguins breed from early September through February. They create nests in various habitats like coastal forests, grasslands, and rocky headlands, often preferring burrows in deep soil under tussocks and tall grasses. These penguins are generally monogamous, with breeding pairs sometimes producing up to four eggs per year. These penguins face threats such as oil pollution, competition with commercial fishing, and climate-related disruptions. They are currently listed as near threatened on the IUCN Red List.

How do Magellanic penguins adapt to their environment and survive?

Magellanic penguins are well-adapted for their marine environment and survival. Their bodies have short feathers packed tightly together that minimize friction in the water and trap air for insulation. They have a thick layer of fat for additional insulation in cold temperatures. These penguins breed in colonies, creating nests or burrows in various habitats like coastal forests and grasslands. They forage in groups, diving as deep as 75–90 meters to hunt for fish, krill, and cephalopods. Magellanic penguins face threats from predators such as killer whales, fur seals, and sea lions at sea, while skuas, gulls, foxes, and cats prey on their eggs and chicks on land. They are currently listed as near threatened due to declining populations in some areas.

Magellanic penguin

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Images & Videos

A Magellanic penguin stands near a burrow on rocky ground, with many other penguins and burrows scattered across the landscape on an island in Patagonia, Chile.

Gloved hand holds a vial with penguin feces; two Magellanic penguins look on from the right, with emphasis marks on the sample.

Experience a day in the life of a penguin researcher

Magellanic penguin, left (Spheniscus magellanicus), and king shag (Phalacrocorax albiventer), watercolour and pencil by Roger Tory Peterson, from his book Penguins (1979); Houghton Mifflin

Watch Magellanic penguins gathering to breed on Valdés Peninsula, Argentina

View elephant seals on Argentina's southern coast and Magellan penguins on the country's Valdes Peninsula

Quick Facts

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Magellanic penguin

bird

Also known as: Spheniscus magellanicus

Written by

John P. Rafferty

Fact-checked by

Britannica Editors

History

Top Questions

What is a Magellanic penguin?
The Magellanic penguin (Spheniscus magellanicus) is a penguin species marked by a broad crescent of white feathers from above each eye to the chin, a horseshoe-shaped band of black feathers across the chest and abdomen, and a small region of pink flesh on the face.

These penguins are mid-sized, with adults averaging about 70 cm in length and weighing 4 to 4.7 kg. They eat fish, krill, and cephalopods, often diving 75–90 meters to hunt. Magellanic penguins nest in colonies in coastal forests, grasslands, and islands, with breeding pairs generally staying monogamous. They prefer to nest in burrows or under bushes, and both parents incubate the eggs. The species is listed as near threatened, facing threats such as oil pollution, competition with fisheries, and climate-related disruptions.
1 Britannica Source
1. Magellanic penguin: Predators and prey
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Where do Magellanic penguins live?
Magellanic penguins inhabit the Falkland Islands and various nearshore islands along the Pacific and Atlantic coasts of southern South America. They can also be found as far afield as Peru, Brazil, Australia, New Zealand, and the Antarctic Peninsula.

Magellanic colonies nest in habitats such as coastal forests, grasslands, offshore islands, and rocky headlands. Breeding pairs construct burrows in deep soil under tussocks and tall grasses or create nests under bushes and in rocky areas. The Falkland Islands are home to several million penguins, mainly rockhopper, gentoo, and Magellanic penguins.
2 Britannica Sources
1. Magellanic penguin: Nesting and breeding
2. Falkland Islands: Land
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
What do Magellanic penguins eat?
The Magellanic penguin diet consists of fish, krill, and cephalopods. They commonly forage in groups, sometimes diving to depths of 75–90 metres (250–300 feet) to capture prey. The type of food utilized varies with the geographic region, and the time of year.
3 Britannica Sources
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
How do Magellanic penguins care for their young?
Magellanic penguin pairs are generally monogamous and may produce up to four eggs per year. They construct burrows or nests where the female lays two eggs, with both parents taking turns incubating them for about 40 days. For the first month, the chicks stay in their nests as their parents hunt for food, feeding them at least once a day. Magellanic chicks don’t usually gather in groups like other penguin species. The fledging period lasts 60-120 days, depending on available food resources. Foxes, rats, and felines also prey on young Magellanic penguins.
1 Britannica Source
1. Magellanic penguin: Nesting and breeding
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
What are some unique features of Magellanic penguins?
The Magellanic penguin (Spheniscus magellanicus) is a species known for a few distinctive features. These penguins have a crescent of white feathers stretching from above the eyes to the chin and a horseshoe-shaped band of black feathers across the chest and abdomen. They also have a region of pink flesh on their face.

Magellanic penguins breed from early September through February. They create nests in various habitats like coastal forests, grasslands, and rocky headlands, often preferring burrows in deep soil under tussocks and tall grasses. These penguins are generally monogamous, with breeding pairs sometimes producing up to four eggs per year.

These penguins face threats such as oil pollution, competition with commercial fishing, and climate-related disruptions. They are currently listed as near threatened on the IUCN Red List.
1 Britannica Source
1. Magellanic penguin: Predators and prey
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
How do Magellanic penguins adapt to their environment and survive?
Magellanic penguins are well-adapted for their marine environment and survival. Their bodies have short feathers packed tightly together that minimize friction in the water and trap air for insulation. They have a thick layer of fat for additional insulation in cold temperatures.

These penguins breed in colonies, creating nests or burrows in various habitats like coastal forests and grasslands. They forage in groups, diving as deep as 75–90 meters to hunt for fish, krill, and cephalopods.

Magellanic penguins face threats from predators such as killer whales, fur seals, and sea lions at sea, while skuas, gulls, foxes, and cats prey on their eggs and chicks on land. They are currently listed as near threatened due to declining populations in some areas.
3 Britannica Sources
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Magellanic penguin, (Spheniscus magellanicus), species of penguin (order Sphenisciformes) characterized by the presence of a broad crescent of white feathers that extends from just above each eye to the chin, a horseshoe-shaped band of black feathers that cuts across the white feathers on the chest and abdomen, and a small but noticeable region of pink flesh on the face. Adults are sometimes mistaken for African penguins (Spheniscus demersus), which display a small fleshy region over each eye, or Humboldt penguins (S. humboldti), whose fleshy region encompasses the base of the beak and both eyes. The geographic range of the Magellanic penguin is limited to the Falkland Islands and several nearshore islands along the Pacific and Atlantic coasts of southern South America; however, some individuals have traveled as far as Peru, Brazil, Australia, New Zealand, and the Antarctic Peninsula. Magellanic penguins are named for Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan; however, Italian explorer Antonio Pigafetta, who traveled with Magellan during his attempt to circumnavigate the globe in 1520, is credited with sighting the species.

Physical features

In terms of body size, on average, Magellanic penguins are the largest members of the genus Spheniscus—a group that also includes African penguins (S. demersus), Humboldt penguins (S. humboldti), and Galapagos penguins (S. mendiculus). The average adult is about 70 cm (about 28 inches) in length and weighs from 4 to 4.7 kg (roughly 9 to 10 pounds), males being slightly taller and heavier than females. Both sexes closely resemble one another in appearance. The plumage of juvenile Magellanic penguins is coloured brown and white. Juveniles also differ from adults by possessing a single white band that separates the plumage colouring the face and stomach. Instead of a prominent crescent of white feathers on either side of the face, juveniles display light-coloured cheek patches that contrast with the darker feathers of the head. Chicks are brown with a white face and underside.

Predators and prey

The diet of the Magellanic penguin is made up of fish (such as anchovies, sardines, hake, sprat, and cod), krill, and cephalopods. Group foraging is common, with individuals sometimes diving to depths of 75–90 metres (250–300 feet) to capture prey. In the ocean, adults and juveniles are killed and eaten by killer whales (Orcinus orca), fur seals (Arctocephalus), sea lions (Otaria), and giant fulmars (Macronectes giganteus). On land, many eggs and chicks fall prey to skuas (Catharacta) and gulls; however, foxes, rats, and felines (including pumas and domestic cats) also take a heavy toll on the young of some colonies.

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Nesting and breeding

Magellanic colonies occur in a variety of habitats, including coastal forests and grasslands and on offshore islands and rocky headlands on the islands they inhabit. The breeding season lasts from early September through February. Breeding pairs are generally monogamous and may produce up to four eggs (two clutches of two eggs) per year. Breeding pairs prefer to construct burrows into the deep soil underneath tussocks and tall grasses; however, nests are also made under bushes and in rocky areas they scrape clean of vegetation.

A few weeks after copulation, two eggs of roughly equal size are laid in the burrow or nest. The laying of the first egg precedes that of the second by four days. Both parents take turns incubating the eggs, each member of the pair taking shifts that initially last two to three weeks. Incubation continues until the eggs hatch about 40 days later. For the first 30 days of life, the chicks remain in their burrows and nests while their parents capture prey in the sea. The parents feed the chicks at least once per day for the first 30 days, but the feedings become more sporadic afterward. Unlike most other penguin species, most Magellanic chicks do not form “crèches” (groups) with other members of their cohort. In general, the burrows provide the young with ample protection from predators and inclement weather. Some burrows, however, flood and collapse during heavy rains, and the chicks that reside in such places often become hypothermic as a result.

Although the breeding pair tends to give greater a share of the food to the first chick that hatches, both offspring often reach adulthood when adequate food resources are available. The fledging period, the interval in which young are prepared for adulthood, may conclude when the young are 60 days old. In colonies with fewer food resources available, such as those that occur on the Falkland Islands, the fledging period lasts until the young are 120 days old, after which they leave their parents to live on their own. Magellanic penguins reach sexual maturity as early as age three, but most females do not breed until age four, and most males do not breed until age five. Many individuals live to be 20 years old, and some have lived as long as 30 years.

Conservation status

Since 2004, Magellanic penguins have been listed as near threatened on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species. A census performed in 2013 estimated that there are between 1.1 million and 1.6 million breeding pairs worldwide. Some colonies have grown substantially since the 1960s, whereas others have experienced sustained population declines. For example, between the early 1960s and the early 1990s, the Caleta Valdés colony in Argentina grew from only two pairs to 26,000 pairs. In contrast, the population of the colony at Punta Tombo in Argentina fell by 20–30 percent between 1987 and 2010. In addition, some studies report that the Falkland Island population decreased by nearly 50 percent during the same period. Furthermore, during the 1980s and early 1990s, some 20,000–40,000 adults and juveniles succumbed to oil pollution each year along the coast of Argentina. Such dramatic declines have worried ecologists. Other threats to Magellanic penguins include competition with the commercial fishing industry for anchovies and other fish, inadvertent capture in fishing nets, and reproductive and food disruptions caused by El Niño/Southern Oscillation events.