Here you will find a general description of the breeding behaviour of Spheniscus Penguins.

The Spheniscid penguins live in temperate regions and have less need than other species to keep their young warm. They usually dig deep burrows into grassy banks to form their nests and to protect against land based predators. For example, hyenas have been known to predate on African penguins.

The female will usually lay two eggs, and it is quite common in some of the better localities for both chicks to be successfully reared. Spheniscid chicks do not normally form into crèches, but stay in the nest until they are almost ready to moult. One parent will remain on guard duty as long as possible; it is only when the growing chicks demand for food becomes too great for a single parent to fill their need that the guard is no longer kept up.

Because of the temperate climate, spheniscid penguins do not tend to have precise breeding seasons, but will breed throughout the year. Therefore at any colony there may be chicks of all ages present as well as moulting adult birds. Most spheniscid penguins do not leave the colonies for long periods in the winter months so that there are always plenty of birds in residence throughout the whole year.

More details specific to African , Humboldt , Magellanic and Galapagos penguins can be found on the pages with detailed species notes.