Distinguishing features

Magellanic penguins have a broad black band under their chin and another that runs in an inverted horseshoe shape around their fronts. The chest is dotted with a few black spots in a random pattern. Although the pattern of banding on Galapagos penguins is similar to that on Magellanic Penguins, they are easily distinguished. Magellanic Penguins are considerably larger than Galapagos Penguins and the main black band around the front is much narrower on Galapagos Penguins. 

Photos of Magellanic penguins

Sub-species

There are no generally recognised sub-species of the Magellanic penguin.

Height & Weight

Magellanic Penguins stand 60 cm tall. Weight varies through the year from 4 to 6 kg.

Breeding locations

Nesting behaviour

Nests are built well apart usually under bushes or in burrows. Two eggs are laid and in good years both chicks are reared. Incubation takes 39 to 42 days shared equally between both parents in long shifts of 10 to 15 days. Chicks are brooded and guarded for 29 days after hatching with feeding and guard duties shared between the parents with the chicks being fed every 2 to 3 days. Chicks moult and go to sea when 60 to 70 days old.

Principal diet

Magellanic penguins eat a mixture of squid and small schooling fish.

Alternative names

The Magellanic penguins are often called "Jackass penguins" on the Falkland Islands.  This can be very confusing as the African penguin is also often called a "Jackass penguin".