Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) were named after Ferdinand Magellan who is believed to have been the first European to have seen them during his first voyage around Cape Horn on the tip of South America in 1519. They can be found inhabiting areas of rocky shorelines in subantarctic regions and cold temperate seas.

There are thought to be around 700,000 pairs of Magellanic penguins with concentrated populations along the Pacific coast of southern Chile. There are also significant breeding colonies on coasts of Patagonia, Argentina, the Falkland Islands, Staten Island, Tierra del Fuego and Fernandez Islands.

Magellanic Penguins at Otway Sound, Chile

Image Author Liam Quinn from Canada

Description

As one of the Spheniscus genus the Magellanic is closely related to the Humboldt and African penguins. Its backs has a brown-black colouring with a white trunk and breast that is splattered with black spots

Magellanics are very similar in appearance to Humboldt penguins. They are very often found living close together and it can be difficult to tell them apart.

The Magellanic penguin has two wide black bands underneath the chin. There is also a large upside down U shaped marking that starts at its feet running up the underarms of it flippers and across its chest meeting underneath its neck.

This marking is incomplete with the Humboldt's and absent altogether with African penguins. Standing about 27 inches tall and weighing 9 pounds, the Magellanic penguin is larger than the Humboldt and African penguin, though not as large Emperor or King penguins.

Magellanics have a very high density of feathers with over 70 per square inch all of which are coated with a waterproofing oil. As with most other species of penguin their black and white colouring and ungainly gait give them a comical appearance to humans.

Nevertheless their black and white colouring provides excellent camouflage. Their black backs are hidden in the dark waves of the cold seas and their white breast and belly will be difficult for a predator underneath them in the sea to spot against the brightness of the sky and sun above the water.

Diet

Magellanics are strong swimmers and can reach over 15 miles per hour using their wings to power through the water. They hunt for fish, krill and squid and will often hunt in groups cooperating together to catch prey on short shallow dives.

Breeding

When the breeding season arrives and the weather becomes warmer they moult feathers from the around the area of their eyes. These will return when the weather cools again.

They breed from around later September to early February coming ashore to build nests in colonies with others. The breeding pairs like to use deep burrows under rocks and bushes to build their nests.

The female lays two eggs and both male and female will take turns to incubate. When the eggs hatch male and female again take turns in caring for the chicks in shifts that often last 10 to 15 days while the other hunts in the sea.

In about 5 to six weeks the eggs will hatch. Unlike other penguin species who give the strongest chick preferential care Magellanics give equal care to both chicks and both will often grow to be adults.

The chicks will stay in the burrow for about a month until they have gained their adult feathers. When they reach between 60 and 70 days of age they will be ready to leave the burrow and hunt in the sea.

Predators and Threats

Southern sea lions prey upon Magellanics and unguarded chicks and eggs that are vulnerable to Giant petrels and Kelp gulls. They are also vulnerable to human activity facing threats from overfishing, net entanglement, oil spills and pollution.