Magellanic Penguins Facts

7 majestic magellanic penguin facts.

Magellanic penguins facts. Magellanic penguins have black heads with a white border. They spend most of their time at sea. During this period penguins are terrestrial building nests on sandy shores or rocky cliffs. The males are larger than the females and the weight of both drops while the parents raise their young.

These penguins are highly social animals gathering into large breeding colonies of up to 200 000 birds. Males are bigger than females. The bird is named after the portuguese explorer ferdinand magellan who was the first person to recognize the penguin as early as in 1520. Magellanic penguins are excellent long distance swimmers and often hunt in groups to aid in catching prey.

The magellanic penguin is listed as near threatened. Breeding season for the magellanic penguins is from late september to early february when adults come to shore to establish nesting sites within loose colonies. Predators include southern sea lions leopard seals patagonian foxes and killer whales. Magellanic penguins are very social and form groups for some activities such as hunting.

They are migratory birds. Magellanic penguins live in the states of south america including brazil argentina chile rio de janeiro and falkland islands. When seen from above a penguin s black. They excrete the extra salt with special glands located near the eyes.

Adult magellanic penguins have white bellies and black bands running between the breast and head. Using their wings like paddles they can achieve speeds of over 15 miles per hour. Naturally shy and seclusive on land mated pairs nest in deep burrows often hiding there when disturbed where. The discovery of south america s magellanic penguin was chronicled during the journey of spanish explorer ferdinand magellan in 1520.

They construct their nests at a distance of about 2 meters from each other. The height of adult penguins measure about 61 76 cm and they weigh 6 0 and 14 3 pounds. Adults have black backs and white abdomens. Magellanic penguin facts for kids.

The magellanic penguins are diurnal birds. Like some other penguins magellanic penguins swallow a lot of ocean water which has far too much salt for their bodies to absorb. After the breeding season penguins and their young migrate north where they practice pelagic lifestyle living in the open ocean. Magellanic penguins are medium sized penguins which grow to be 61 76 cm 24 30 in tall and weigh between 2 7 and 6 5 kg 6 0 and 14 3 lb.

Male magellanic penguins are larger than the females. Eggs and chicks face predators such as kelp gulls and lesser grisons. One of 18 penguin species the magellanic penguin is known for its black body and white belly countershading that helps it avoid predators while swimming. Magellanic penguins grow to weigh as much as 14 3 pounds and stand up to 30 inches tall.