African Penguin (Spheniscus demersus) — identification, habitat & look-alikes

The African penguin is the only penguin that breeds in Africa, nesting on islands and beaches of South Africa and Namibia. It doesn't live wild in the United States, but many American zoos and aquariums keep it. It's also called the jackass penguin for its loud, donkey-like bray.

Appearance

Appearance: About 24–28 in (60–70 cm) tall and 5–8 lb (2.2–3.5 kg). Black back, white belly, and a single black band shaped like an upside-down horseshoe across the chest. Each bird's chest spots form a unique pattern, like a fingerprint. The pink skin above each eye is a cooling patch that turns pinker as the bird gets hotter.
Voice: A loud, braying call like a donkey's.

Look-alikes

Humboldt penguinSpheniscus humboldti

The Humboldt penguin has fleshy pink skin at the base of its bill, while the African penguin's pink skin is above the eye. Both have a single chest band, so photos alone can be hard to sort out.

Why they get mixed upSame genus, similar size and pattern, and both are common in zoos.

Magellanic penguinSpheniscus magellanicus

The Magellanic penguin has two black bands across its chest. The African penguin has one.

Why they get mixed upVery similar black-and-white face and body pattern.

Where it lives

Typical habitats: rocky islands
sandy coasts
coastal waters
Range: Found only along the southwestern coast of Africa, in Namibia and South Africa. Most colonies are on islands. Mainland colonies at Boulders Beach and Stony Point in South Africa formed in the 1980s.
Seasonal presence: Year-round resident. To feed, birds from island colonies travel about 30 mi (50 km) or more out to sea, while mainland birds usually stay within about 9 mi (15 km).

Behavior

Diet: Mostly schooling fish such as sardines and anchovies, plus squid and small crustaceans.

Life cycle

Nest: Digs burrows in old seabird , or nests in sand under rocks and bushes. Since guano was mined away at many colonies, nest boxes are now used.
Clutch size: Usually 2 eggs
Incubation: About 38–41 days, shared by both parents.
Fledging: Chicks leave the nest at about 2–4 months old and spend 1–2 years at sea before returning.
Lifespan: Roughly 10–25 years in the wild; zoo birds have lived to 34.

Conservation

IUCN Red List: CRCritically EndangeredOn the brink of extinction in the wild
Status: Numbers have fallen by about 95% since pre-industrial times, to fewer than 10,000 breeding pairs by 2023. The main cause is commercial fishing and shifting ocean conditions that have reduced its sardine and anchovy prey. Oil spills, guano mining, and past egg collecting added to the decline. It has been listed as endangered under the U.S. Endangered Species Act since 2010.

Culture and stories

Culture and stories: In the US, zoos and aquariums manage their African penguins together through the AZA's Species Survival Plan breeding program.