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Magellanic penguin

Magellanic penguin

Spheniscus magellanicus
Where at Shedd?
Abbott Oceanarium
Diet Small fish, squid and krill
Size 28 inches (70 cm)
Type Birds
Range Patagonia, Falkland, Staten, Islands
Habitat Coastal forests and grasslands, offshore islands and rocky shorelines

About the Magellanic penguin

The boldly banded Magellanic penguins live along the coast of southern South America, fishing the rich waters in the Strait of Magellan.

Did you know?

  1. Magellanic penguins can "fly" underwater at speeds of up to 15 miles per hour.

  2. Magellanic penguins are named for Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan.

IUCN Red List Conservation Status

Association of Zoos & Aquariums Species Survival Plan®

This species is part of a program to support healthy, genetically diverse animal populations.

Magellanic penguins have short, squat legs and waddle awkwardly around on land, but their torpedo-shaped bodies and thin, crescent-shaped wings propel them easily through water!
A Magellanic penguin is viewed from above as it swims in the clear water of its habitat in Polar Play Zone. Its wings are outstretched as it steers its torpedo-shaped body through the water, and its back where it is lifted from the water is glossy with waterproof feathers.

Gesundheit!

Magellanic penguins are swift swimmers, literally flying underwater as fast as 15 mph. But instead of wings, they have powerful flippers with broad, flat, fused bones that also enable them to dive for their prey, mainly anchovies, sardines and cephalopods. Penguins get all their water from their food, but it's salty. They have a unique way of excreting this salt — they sneeze.

When a Magellanic penguin molts, a new layer of feathers grows in and the old feathers fall off in clumps. The penguins can often be seen itching away at loose patches of feathers during their molts.

Maintaining a Feather Dry Suit

Penguin feathers are small and densely packed — about 70 on a square inch of body surface. To maintain this warm, waterproof covering, they carefully clean and rearrange the feathers and preen with oil from a gland under their tail. Every year penguins replace all their feathers at once, in what scientists call a "catastrophic molt." Only after they have completely replumed, a process that takes a couple of weeks, can penguins swim and hunt again.

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