Magellanic Penguins

Magellanic Penguins are medium sized penguins with the traditional white stomachs and black backs.  There are 2 black bands between the head and chest that help identify this species of penguin.  This double black banding is created by 2 horseshoe shaped white bands.  One white horseshoe starts above the eyes of the Magellanic penguin and circles down below the chin.  The second white horseshoe comes up the wing line and circles over the top of the chest.

 

Magellanic penguins typically live about 25 years in the wild.  Their coat is greyish during the chick and juvenile stages.  Young adults can be distinguished by mottled feet that become completely black around 10 years old. 

 

Krill, squid, crustaceans, and sardines are typical food for Magellanic penguins.  They eat while at sea which means they consume a lot of salt with the food they swallow.  The Magellanic penguins have developed a special gland that excretes this excess salt.

 

Magellanic penguins build their nests in burrows or under brush.  They typically lay 1-2 eggs.  The eggs hatch in approximately 40 days.  The parents take shifts caring for the chicks for the first month with a typical shift being approximately 2 weeks.  Chicks are feed every 1-2 days.  It is not uncommon for the parents to only raise one egg to adulthood if there is a limited food supply.  The first egg to hatch is the chick that gets feeding priority.

 

Magellanic penguin couples reunite each mating season.  They typically reclaim their borrows from the previous season.  Females are able to recognize the call of their mates.

 

Natural threats to Magellanic penguins are sea lions and giant petrels.  They are also threatened by oil spills and over fishing.