Magellanic Penguin
(Spheniscus magellanicus)
Magellanic penguins look similar to the Galapagos penguin, but Magellanic penguins are bigger. In fact, they are the largest species of warm-weather penguins, weighing from 9 to 11 pounds and standing about 27 inches tall as an adult. They do however, have some of the same markings as their Galapagos relatives.
Where do Magellanic penguins live? They can be found living together in large colonies near the coast of Patagonia, on the stormy shores of Argentina, The Falklands, and Chile. They were named after explorer Ferdinand Magellan who saw them in 1519 on his first journey around the tip of South America.
A magellanic penguins diet consists of small fish, squid and sardines. The penguins stay together in large flocks when they are hunting for food.
While on land, Magellanic penguins are shy and often hide down in their burrows when bothered. Their burrows are nests are built under bushes or rocks. The female usually lays two eggs burrow and sometimes they raise two baby magellanic penguins, but sometimes only one baby magellanic penguin hatches and survives. The chick usually hatch out of their eggs at about 39 to 42 days. After hatching, the baby penguin remains in the burrow for approximately five weeks. The mother and father penguin both share the duties of caring for the chicks, taking turns of 10 to 15 days each. After being fed and guarded for just under 30 days, the chick starts to moult and get its adult plumage. The young penguins will go to sea and begin hunting for their own food when they are between 60 and 70 days old.
The life span of a Magellanic penguin is about 25 years in the wild, and 30 years in captivity.
As of 2007, this penguin species is not endangered, but they do face threats from over-fishing by humans in their area, which lowers the penguins food supply. Oil spills and getting tangled in fishing nets is also a danger that Magellanic penguins live with.