Magellanic Penguin
or Magellen penguin
Scientific Name: Spheniscus magellanicus
Size
They are about 28 inches (70cm) tall. They weigh 9 to 13 pounds (4 to 6kg).
Where are they found?
They breed on the Falkland Islands and other islands along the Patagonian
coast from Latitude 41�S southward to Cape Horn, Staten Island and outlying
islands. Ranges northward as far as southern Brazil.
What do they eat?
In the breeding season they feed on the Cuttlefish which are found around the
inshore kelp beds. During other seasons they feed on small fish.
Main Predators
Their main predators are Sea Lions, Leopard Seals and Killer Whales.
Highlights
They have striking piebald plumage - even the bill is often flecked with white.
Rookeries (warrens would be more appropiate in this case) are formed in a
surprising variety of habitats - grassy slopes, woodland, peatbanks,
sandhills and coastal bluffs. The nst is made of pebbles, twigs, leaves and
feathers. They form a little mound anything up to 10 feet (3m) inside the
burrow, keeping the eggs above water which sometimes accumulates them.
Two white eggs are laid. The incubation period is about 28 days.
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