Magellanic Penguin

Spheniscus magellanicus

Standing just over two feet tall, these charismatic black-and-white penguins swim thousands of miles each year between their breeding colonies in South America and winter feeding grounds as far north as Brazil.

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Visual Identification

Appearance

Magellanic Penguins are medium-sized penguins with distinctive black and white plumage. They have a black back and head, with a white belly and a horseshoe-shaped band of white feathers extending from their throat to behind their eyes.

Adults have two black bands across their chest, while juveniles have a single, less defined band. Their flippers are black on the outer side and white underneath, adapted for swimming rather than flying.

Size

Length

60cm to 75cm

Wingspan

76cm to 91cm

Weight

2.7kg to 6.5kg

Colours

Males and females have similar plumage

Primary Colour

Black White

Secondary Colour

Grey Pink

Beak Colour

Black

Leg Colour

Black Pink

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Magellanic Penguin is not typically found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Magellanic Penguin is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Magellanic Penguin is not typically found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Magellanic Penguin can be found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Magellanic Penguin is not typically found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Magellanic Penguin is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Magellanic Penguin is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Magellanic Penguin is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Magellanic Penguin is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Magellanic Penguin is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Magellanic Penguin is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Magellanic Penguin is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

Magellanic Penguins inhabit the coasts and offshore islands of southern South America, including Argentina, Chile, and the Falkland Islands. They prefer temperate to cool coastal waters and breed on rocky or sandy shores with sparse vegetation.

During non-breeding seasons, these penguins migrate northward, sometimes reaching as far as Brazil and Peru. They spend much of their time at sea, coming ashore mainly for breeding and moulting.

Elevation Range

Sea level to 85 meters

Climate zones

Temperate, Subantarctic

Distribution Map

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