Bird Guide

Galapagos Penguin

Spheniscus mendiculus

EndangeredEndemicFishMarineCavity nestHuge · 1.9 kg

About the Galapagos Penguin

The Galápagos penguin is a penguin endemic to the Galápagos Islands of Ecuador. It is the only penguin found north of the equator. Most inhabit Fernandina Island and the west coast of Isabela Island. The cool waters of the Humboldt and Cromwell Currents allow it to survive despite the tropical latitude. The Galápagos penguin is one of the banded penguins, the other species of which live mostly on the coasts of Africa and mainland South America. Due to their warm environment, Galápagos penguins have developed techniques to stay cool. The feathers on their back, flippers, and head are black, and they have a white belly and a stripe looping from their eyes down to their neck and chin. Each…

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

ID tip

The average Galápagos penguin is 48–50 centimetres (19–20 in) tall and weighs around 2–4 kilograms (4.4–8.8 lb). It is the second-smallest species of penguin, after the little penguin. Females are usually smaller than males. Galápagos penguins have a black head with a white border running from behind the eye, around the black ear coverts and chin, to join on the throat. The top of the beaks are black and fade into pink on the bottom. They have two black bands across the breast that connect to the back, the lower band extending down the flanks to the thigh.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Where the Galapagos Penguin lives

Regular range

When to see the Galapagos Penguin

Peak activity in July · a resident species across most of its range

Easily confused with

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