Galápagos Penguin

Spheniscus mendiculus

The world's most northerly penguin species and the only one found above the equator, spend their days in the sun-warmed waters around the Galapagos Islands.

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Visual Identification

Appearance

The Galapagos Penguin is the second smallest penguin species, characterised by its black upperparts and white underparts. It has a distinctive white band that runs from behind the eye, around the black ear coverts and chin, to join the white of the throat.

Both sexes look similar, with juveniles having a darker, more bluish-grey plumage. During the breeding season, adults develop a mottled appearance on their formerly white front due to moulting.

Size

Length

48cm to 53cm

Wingspan

40cm to 45cm

Weight

1.7kg to 2.6kg

Colours

Males and females have similar plumage

Primary Colour

Black White

Secondary Colour

Grey

Beak Colour

Pink Black

Leg Colour

Black Pink

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Galápagos Penguin is not typically found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Galápagos Penguin is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Galápagos Penguin is not typically found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Galápagos Penguin can be found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Galápagos Penguin is not typically found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Galápagos Penguin is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Galápagos Penguin is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Galápagos Penguin is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Galápagos Penguin is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Galápagos Penguin is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Galápagos Penguin is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Galápagos Penguin is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

Galapagos Penguins are endemic to the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador. They are the only penguin species found in the wild north of the equator. They primarily inhabit the western islands of Isabela and Fernandina.

These penguins prefer cool, nutrient-rich waters brought by the Humboldt and Cromwell Currents. They nest on the rocky coasts of the islands, often in caves or crevices that provide shelter from the sun.

Elevation Range

Sea level to 40 meters

Climate zones

Tropical

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Galápagos 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