Magellanic Penguins
Scientific Name: Spheniscus Magellanicus  

The Magellanic penguin is black and white like most penguins but it has some unique markings that make it different from others. It has a broad black band of feathers under its chin and another black stripe of feathers that looks like an upside down horseshoe on its chest. The white chest feathers have black spots scattered over it. There is also a white stripe of feathers that starts near its eye and goes back behind its cheek, under the chin and behind the other cheek and over to the opposite eye.

It is a warm weather penguin. It comes ashore during the warm months to build nests and lay eggs. During this time the feathers around the eyes fall out and the skin will turn pinkish. When the weather turns cold again the feathers will grow back in.

It would be easy to confuse the Magellanic penguin with the the Galapagos penguin. The Magellanic penguin is much larger as is the black stripe of feathers on the chest.

The Magellanic penguin will grow to stand about 60 cm tall. It can weigh about 6 kg at the heaviest.

Magellanic penguins build nests well apart from one another. They like to build nests under bushes or in burrows under rocks. They tend to be shy when they are on land and will hide in their nests if disturbed.  Two eggs will be laid in the nest. Both eggs will be cared for and the chicks will hatch after about 42 days. The chicks will stay in the nest for the next five weeks. During these five weeks, the parents will take turns for 10 to 15 days each caring for the young chicks. The chick will be fed every 2 to three days. After about 29 days the chicks will molt and grow new feathers. When the chicks are about 70 days old they will be old enough to go to sea and hunt for their own food.

Magellanic penguins like to eat squid and small fish.