African Penguin

Spheniscus demersus

Small but mighty, this charismatic penguin waddles along South Africa's beaches as one of the continent's most remarkable seabirds.

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Visual Identification

Appearance

The African Penguin is a medium-sized penguin with a distinctive black and white plumage. Its back, flippers, and head are black, while the underparts are white with a horseshoe-shaped black band across the chest and flanks.

Both sexes look similar, with juveniles having a duller, blue-grey plumage. Adults have pink patches of skin above the eyes and a black facial mask. Their beak is black, with a white band near the base.

Size

Length

60cm to 70cm

Wingspan

50cm to 60cm

Weight

2.4kg to 3.7kg

Colours

Males and females have similar plumage

Primary Colour

Black White

Secondary Colour

Pink

Beak Colour

Black

Leg Colour

Black

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The African Penguin is not typically found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The African Penguin is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The African Penguin is not typically found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The African Penguin can be found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The African Penguin is not typically found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The African Penguin is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The African Penguin is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The African Penguin is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The African Penguin is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The African Penguin is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The African Penguin is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The African Penguin is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

African Penguins are found along the southwestern coast of Africa, from Namibia to South Africa. They inhabit rocky islands and coastal areas, nesting on land but spending much of their time foraging in the ocean.

While primarily resident, some individuals may travel long distances in search of food, especially outside the breeding season. Their range is limited to areas influenced by the cold Benguela Current, which supports their prey species.

Elevation Range

Sea level to 50 meters

Climate zones

Subtropical, Temperate

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a African Penguin. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons