Humboldt penguin

• Class: Birds (Aves)
• Order: Penguins (Sphenisciformes)
• Family: Penguins (Spheniscidae)
• Genus: Spheniscus
• Species: Spheniscus humboldti

Size

The Humboldt penguin reaches 40 to 50?cm in length and 4 to 6 kg in weight.

Ecology

The Humboldt penguin is named after the Antarctic Humboldt current that flows along the west coast of South America, which is predominantly their habitat.
As implied by their wings’ rudimentary shape, all penguins lack the ability to fly. Through evolution, the wings have lost the specialised features that propel birds through flight. Penguins however are superbly adapted to water, where they are very agile, quick and use their hindlegs to steer efficiently.

Food habits

Humboldt penguins feed on small fish like anchovies and sardines are preferred, but others as well as squid and crayfish are also hunted. They forage in waters shallower than 60 m, often amongst weed beds, but Humboldt penguins have been known to descend to 150 m depths.

Longevity

They may live for up to 17 years.

Reproduction

The female lays 2 eggs in a dug-out burrow on mainland shores or coastal islands, sometimes laying them in a rocky crevice or surface scrape.
Both parents take turns at incubating, which takes approximately 40 days. The chicks are fed small fish by both parents in turns, and remain so until their own independance at 3 months of age.

Conservation status

The decline of the Humboldt penguin began in the mid-19th century when the intensive activity of guano collectors disturbed and damaged nesting areas. Guano, the excrement of birds and bats, is a much sought-after fertiliser.
Humboldt penguin numbers usually fluctuate under natural conditions because the marine environment where they live is highly unpredictable. However, an overall reduction in the number of breeding colonies suggests an ongoing underlying decline in both range and population. Entanglement of these birds in fishing nets, and extensive over-fishing of their prey species, constitue other significant threats faced by the Humboldt penguin.

IUCN Threat Category:

Vulnerable.