# Magellanic Penguin (*spheniscus magellanicus*) The Magellanic Penguin is a delightful bird that waddles when it walks! These charming penguins are known for their black and white feathers and love to swim in the ocean. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** They live in coastal regions of South America, particularly in Argentina and Chile. - **Also known as:** Magellan Penguin, Patagonian Penguin, Spheniscus Penguin ![Magellanic Penguin](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Magellanic_penguin.jpg&width=800) Photo: CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Magellanic_penguin.jpg) ## Appearance The Magellanic Penguin has a sleek black back and a white belly, distinctively marked with two black bands across its chest and a white band sweeping from its eye to its chin. Its dark face contrasts with its light throat. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Sphenisciformes - **Family:** Spheniscidae - **Genus:** Spheniscus ## Interesting facts - Each year, they shed all their old feathers at once in a 'catastrophic molt'! - Magellanic penguins travel thousands of kilometers each year just to find food! - Their loud, braying calls sound so much like a donkey, they're nicknamed 'donkey penguins'! - They can hold their breath for several minutes while hunting deep underwater! ## Special abilities - **Underwater Flight:** Magellanic Penguins can 'fly' underwater using their powerful flippers because it helps them swim fast and chase agile prey. - **Saltwater Glands:** Magellanic Penguins have special glands that help them filter excess salt from the ocean water, allowing them to drink it. - **Waterproof Coat:** Magellanic Penguins have tightly packed, oily feathers that create a waterproof barrier, keeping them warm and dry in cold waters. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 60-75 cm - **Wingspan:** 30-40 cm - **Weight:** 2.7-6.5 kg - **Lifespan:** 15-20 years - **Speed:** 25 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 2 - **Incubation:** 39-42 days - **Migration Distance:** 2000 km ## Diet & Feeding These penguins dive deep in the ocean to catch small fish and squid to fill their bellies! - **Primary Foods:** Anchovies, Sardines, Hake, Squid, Krill - **Foraging Method:** Pursuit ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Leopard Seal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/leopard-seal) (*Hydrurga leptonyx*) — Leopard seals prey on adult penguins at sea. - **Eaten by:** [Orca](https://www.snappit.app/explore/orca) (*Orcinus orca*) — Orcas are apex predators that hunt penguins in the ocean. - **Eaten by:** Southern Giant Petrel (*Macronectes giganteus*) — Giant petrels snatch eggs and young chicks from nests. - **Eats:** Anchovy (*Engraulis anchoita*) — A primary food source for adult and juvenile penguins. - **Eats:** Patagonian Hake (*Merluccius hubbsi*) — Hake are a significant part of their marine diet. ## Traits - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. - [Marine](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/marine): Marine habitats encompass all saltwater environments of the Earth's oceans, supporting an immense diversity of aquatic life. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low No special safety notes yet. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Magellanic Penguin? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Magellanic Penguin? 60-75 cm ### What is Magellanic Penguin's wingspan? 30-40 cm ### How much does Magellanic Penguin weigh? 2.7-6.5 kg ### How long does Magellanic Penguin live? 15-20 years ### How fast can Magellanic Penguin move? 25 km/h ### What does Magellanic Penguin eat? These penguins dive deep in the ocean to catch small fish and squid to fill their bellies! ### Where is Magellanic Penguin usually found? They live in coastal regions of South America, particularly in Argentina and Chile. ## Where to spot - [John Ball Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/john-ball-zoo) — Michigan, US · Zoo - [El Paso Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/el-paso-zoo) — Texas, US · Zoo - [Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/point-defiance-zoo-and-aquarium) — Washington, US · Zoo - [Blackpool Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/blackpool-zoo) — England, GB · Zoo - [Blank Park Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/blank-park-zoo) — Iowa, US · Zoo - [San Francisco Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/san-francisco-zoo) — California, US · Zoo [View all places to see Magellanic Penguin](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/magellanic-penguin) ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Magellanic Penguin: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/magellanic-penguin)