Magellanic Penguin
Spheniscus magellanicus
The Magellanic Penguin (Spheniscus magellanicus) is a uncommon penguin found in 6 countries, weighing about 4.1 kg. The Magellanic penguin is a South American penguin, breeding in coastal Patagonia, including Argentina, Chile, and the Falkland Islands, with some migrating to Brazil and Uruguay, where they are occasionally seen as far north as Espírito Santo.
About the Magellanic Penguin
The Magellanic penguin is a South American penguin, breeding in coastal Patagonia, including Argentina, Chile, and the Falkland Islands, with some migrating to Brazil and Uruguay, where they are occasionally seen as far north as Espírito Santo. Vagrants have been found in El Salvador, the Avian Island in Antarctica, Australia, and New Zealand. It is the most numerous of the Spheniscus banded penguins. Its nearest relatives are the African penguin, the Humboldt penguin, and the Galápagos penguins. The Magellanic penguin was named after Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan, who spotted the birds in 1520. The species is listed as being of Least Concern by the IUCN.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
Magellanic penguins are medium-sized penguins which grow to be 61–76 cm (24–30 in) tall and weigh between 2.7 and 6.5 kg (6.0 and 14.3 lb). The males are larger than the females, and the weight of both drops while the parents raise their young. Adults have black backs and white abdomens. There are two black bands between the head and the breast, with the lower band shaped in an inverted horseshoe. The head is black with a broad white border that runs from behind the eye, around the black ear-coverts and chin, and joins at the throat.
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Peru.
When to see it
Best months: January, February, March, July, October, November, December, with peak activity in January. It is a variable species across most of its range.
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Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Magellanic Penguin?
- Magellanic penguins are medium-sized penguins which grow to be 61–76 cm (24–30 in) tall and weigh between 2.7 and 6.5 kg (6.0 and 14.3 lb). Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Magellanic Penguin?
- The Magellanic Penguin is a huge sized bird weighing about 4.1 kg.
- Where can you see a Magellanic Penguin?
- The Magellanic Penguin occurs in 6 countries, including Argentina, Chile, the Falkland Islands, Uruguay and Brazil.
- What birds look similar to a Magellanic Penguin?
- The Magellanic Penguin is most easily confused with the Humboldt Penguin, the African Penguin and the Galapagos Penguin.
- Is the Magellanic Penguin endangered?
- The Magellanic Penguin is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Magellanic Penguin for real
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