Magellanic Penguin

Characteristics

Magellanic penguins are medium-sized in regard to other penguins, with the males being larger than the females.  Adults have black backs and white stomachs, like the classic tuxedo pattern.   There are two black bands between the head and the breast, with the lower band being in an inverted horseshoe shape. Chicks and juveniles are grey-blue on their backs, with a more faded grey-blue color on their chest.

Range

Magellanic Penguins live in an active community with many other animals, like sea lions, king cormorant, Patagonian foxes, elephant and leopard seals, southern right whales and other penguin species, including Gentoo and rockhopper.

Communication

While penguins use sound to interact with each other, they often communicate through their body language. An example of this is something called an ecstatic display used by males to warn others to stay away during mating rituals. This involves a male penguin standing upright, pumping his chest and pointing his bill and highly stretched neck in the air, moving his flippers up and down and making loud calls. Another is bowing. Penguins use this behavior to reduce aggression and strengthen recognition between partners. A penguin (or both penguins) will dip its head and point its bill at the nest or at the other bird’s bill, then emit a low hiss or growl.

Breeding and Caring for Young

Magellanic penguins breed once a year and lay 2 eggs. The parents alternate between foraging for food and incubating the eggs until they hatch. Both parents care for the chicks until they are fully feathered and can venture into the ocean.

While both chicks may survive, when food is scarce parents may focus all their efforts on just one.

Did You Know?

• Magellanic penguins are noisy, with a bray like that of a donkey.
• During breeding season, they gather in large nesting communities – with as many as 400,000.
• There are 18 different species of penguin.
• Magellanic penguins dive more than 250 feet in search of food. Emperor penguins can dive up to 1,850 feet!
• Magellanic penguins mate with the same partner year after year.
• The females can recognize their mates through their call alone!

Conservation Status: Near Threatened

Penguins in many places are threatened by human activities in the waters and lands where they swim, nest and search for food.

• Oil pollution is responsible for the deaths of thousands of penguins each year in Argentina and the Falkland Islands.
• Climate Change: warming oceans means penguins must venture dangerously far to get to food.
• Commercial fishing depletes schools of fish that penguins and other seabirds depend on for food. Also, penguins can get entangled in fishing nets.

Making a difference for the penguins!

Zoos and aquariums, along with conservation groups, are working with local communities and governments to:

Take Action Today To Ensure a Healthy Future for Magellanic Penguins!

Our Animals

We have a thriving group of Magellanic Penguins live at Potter Park Zoo, many of which were born right here! The males wear their ID bands on right and the females wear their ID bands on the left.