Humboldt Penguin

Humboldt Penguin

Chilean penguin, Peruvian penguin, Patranca, Humboldt penguin

4 languages
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Family
Genus
SPECIES
Spheniscus humboldti
Population size
44-53 Thou
Life Span
15-30 yrs
Top speed
32 km/h
Weight
2-5 kg
Height
60-68 cm
Length
66-70 cm

The Humboldt penguin (Spheniscus humboldti ) is a medium-sized penguin. It resides in South America, its range mainly contains most of coastal Peru. Its nearest relatives are the African penguin, the Magellanic penguin and the Galápagos penguin. The Humboldt penguin and the cold water current it swims in both are named after the explorer Alexander von Humboldt. The species is listed as vulnerable by the IUCN with no population recovery plan in place. The current population is composed of 32,000 mature individuals and is going down. It is a migrant species.

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Humboldt penguins nest on islands and rocky coasts, burrowing holes in guano and sometimes using scrapes or caves. In South America the Humboldt penguin is found only along the Pacific coast, and the range of the Humboldt penguin overlaps that of the Magellanic penguin on the central Chilean coast. It is vagrant in Ecuador and Colombia. The Humboldt penguin has been known to live in mixed species colonies with the Magellanic penguin in at least two different locations at the south of Chile.

The Humboldt penguin has become a focus of ecotourism over the last decades.

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Di

Diurnal

Ca

Carnivore

Pi

Piscivores

Se

Semiaquatic

Al

Altricial

Fl

Flightless bird

Ap

Apex predator

Na

Natatorial

Te

Terrestrial

Co

Congregatory

Mo

Monogamy

So

Social

Co

Colonial

No

Not a migrant

H

starts with

Appearance

The Humboldt penguin is a medium-sized penguin with black-and-white plumage and a black head. The base of the bill is fleshy and pink in color. The penguin has white-colored patches, stretching from behind each eye down to the black ear-coverts and chin, and meeting on the throat. The upper parts are blackish-grey and the underparts are whitish in color. They have a black-colored stripe on their breasts, stretching from their flanks to the thigh. Young penguins are identified by lacking this stripe and having dark heads.

Distribution

Geography

Continents
Countries
Biogeographical realms

The preferred habitat of the Humboldt penguin is rocky terrains along the coastline. The species is distributed along the Pacific Coast of Chile and Peru.

Humboldt Penguin habitat map

Climate zones

Humboldt Penguin habitat map
Humboldt Penguin
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Habits and Lifestyle

Humboldt penguins are highly social and communicative birds, gathering in large colonies, providing them protection from predators. These penguins are excellent swimmers and see well both underwater and on land. They are diurnal animals. They do not migrate due to warm temperatures throughout the year. However, penguins, not rearing chicks, are able to be away from their colonies and can travel long distances, looking for new foraging areas. However, those, rearing chicks, generally tend to stay in the same area, foraging in shallow water.

Seasonal behavior
Bird's call

Diet and Nutrition

Humboldt penguins are carnivores (piscivores). The diet of these penguins primarily consists of fish. They mostly prefer anchovies and sardines.

Mating Habits

MATING BEHAVIOR
REPRODUCTION SEASON
March-December, peak in April and in August-September
INCUBATION PERIOD
40 days
INDEPENDENT AGE
70-90 days
FEMALE NAME
hen
MALE NAME
cock
BABY NAME
chick, nestling
web.animal_clutch_size
1-2 eggs

The Humboldt penguins have a monogamous mating system. The breeding season lasts from March to December, with the highest breeding activity in April as well as August-September. Before mating, the animals undergo a molting period of about 2 weeks, during which they do not go out to sea and have to starve. By the end of the molt, they finally venture into the sea to forage and then come back to their breeding grounds, where they mate. Usually, 1-2 eggs are laid and incubated for about 40 days. Both the male and female incubate the eggs alternately. When the chicks hatch out, both parents care for them, until the young reach the age of 70-90 days, when they gain their adult plumage. By that time, the young are fully independent and go to sea. Reproductive maturity is reached at 3 years old.

Population

Population threats

The Humboldt penguins are frequently tangled in fishing nets and killed by explosives, used by fishermen. They are threatened because of mining operations, conducted in the area of their range. The animals are captured for the illegal pet trade, food as well as use as fish bait. Human disturbance is among other serious threats to this species' population: in the northern part of Chile, an important breeding site of Humboldt penguins is presently under danger due to the construction of 2 coal-fired power stations in the area.

Population number

The total number of the Humboldt penguin's population varies from 44,239 to 53,462 birds, including 32,000 mature individuals. On the IUCN Red List, the species is classified as Vulnerable (VU).

Fun Facts for Kids

  • The species is named after Alexander Von Humboldt, a German scientist, who explored South America, Cuba, and Mexico in 1799.
  • A group of penguins in the water is referred to as a "raft" while a group on land is called a "waddle". A group of penguin hatchlings is called a "crèche".
  • Although penguins are pretty shy and timid animals, they are usually not afraid of humans.
  • Compared to other bird species, penguins have very dense plumage: about 70 feathers per square inch on average.
  • The place, where penguins mate, nest, and rear their offspring, is referred to as "rookery".
  • Penguins are the fastest swimmers and deepest divers among all bird species in the world. The most aquatic species of bird, these animals, however, can't fly. Scientists say they lost their flying ability million years ago.

References

1. Humboldt Penguin Wikipedia article - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humboldt_penguin
2. Humboldt Penguin on The IUCN Red List site - http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/22697817/0
3. Xeno-canto bird call - https://xeno-canto.org/520292

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