Explore the lives of these fascinating creatures…
Humboldt penguin guide: where they live, what they eat and how they got their name
Known for their adaptability and resilience, this penguin species thrives in the harsh conditions of the Humboldt Current, which brings cold water and nutrient-rich plankton to the region.
Where do Humboldt penguins get their name?
Spheniscus humboldti is named after the cold-water current it swims in, which is itself named after the Prussian naturalist and explorer Alexander von Humboldt.
How to identify Humboldt penguins
The Humboldt penguin has a white front with black flecks and a single black band across the top. It has a black back and tail and a black and white head with a large area of pink skin, which runs from the eyes to the black beak and continues under the chin.
The black feet may also have pink patches. The dark grey and whitish juveniles lack the chest band, and the chicks are greyish-brown and white.
Where do Humboldt penguins live?
The Humboldt Penguin is found along the coastlines and associated small islands of Peru and Chile
How big are Humboldt penguins?
65–70cm (25.6–27.6in), 4–5kg (8.8–11lb) depending on time of year and gender.
What do Humboldt penguins eat?
Their diet includes a variety of fish including Peruvian anchovy, Peruvian silverside and Araucanian herring, plus some squid.
Which animals are their predators?
At sea they are predated by orcas and South American fur seals, while on land eggs and chicks are killed by dogs and feral cats, kelp gulls, Turkey vultures and rats.
What are the breeding habits of the Humboldt penguin?
The Humboldt penguin has two main breeding seasons, depending on the location. They usually nest in a burrow excavated in ancient guano.
Two similarly sized eggs are usually laid 2–4 days apart, and after six weeks of incubation by both parents also hatch around 2–4 days apart.
Both chicks are usually raised and stay in the burrow for the first 2–3 weeks, with the parents alternating between brooding and foraging.
The chicks do not form crèches, so once old enough they are left unattended, allowing both parents to forage and usually fledge between 10 and 13 weeks.
What’s the population of the Humboldt penguin?
Around 23,800 mature individuals and decreasing.
What’s the main threat to the Humboldt penguin?
The Humboldt penguin population is highly susceptible to El Niño events, which are predicted to increase in intensity and frequency with climate change. During these events, nests can flood and the sharp rise in sea temperature reduces prey availability, leading to mass starvation and breeding failure.
Commercial fishing, especially gillnet fishing, is an ongoing threat, as is the potential for oil pollution.
What’s their conservation status?
Vulnerable (IUCN Red List 2020).
Wildlife photographer Ursula Clare Franklin’s new book, Mission Penguin, chronicles her journey to capture all 18 penguin species worldwide, from the Galapagos to Antarctica. Available from 24th October, published by Bloomsbury Wildlife.