Humboldt penguin

Spheniscus Humboldti

Irish Name: Piongain Pheiriúch
IUCN Status: Vulnerable

Penguins are flightless aquatic birds, adapted to live in water. Their backs are black and their chest is white, with a pattern of black spots that is unique to each individual. Humboldt penguins also have a black band of feathers across their upper chest. The base of their beak has no feathers and is pink in colour.

Humboldt penguin

Spheniscus Humboldti

Irish Name: Piongain Pheiriúch
IUCN Status: Vulnerable

Penguins are flightless aquatic birds, adapted to live in water. Their backs are black and their chest is white, with a pattern of black spots that is unique to each individual. Humboldt penguins also have a black band of feathers across their upper chest. The base of their beak has no feathers and is pink in colour.

General Information

Where do they live? (Natural habitat)

Unlike their Antarctic relatives, Humboldt penguins are native to Peru and Chile, where they live on rocky coasts

How long do they live?

Humboldt penguins live approximately 15-20 years in zoos. Little is known about their lifespan in the wild.

What do they eat?

Humboldt penguins feed on small fish such as sardines and anchovies. They also feed on squid, crab and shrimp. They hunt in groups, circling their prey before attacking.

Group name

A group of penguins is called a colony.

Zoo location

The Humboldt penguins are located beside Sea Lion Cove.

Closest related species / sister species

The closest related species to the Humboldt penguin are the Galapagos penguin, Magellanic penguin and African penguin.

Animal class

Aves

Animal order

Sphenisciformes

Fun Facts

Blushing penguins!

Humboldt penguins have patches of bare skin on their faces (around their beaks). When the penguins get too hot they blush, which helps them to cool down.

Grasping Prey

Humboldt penguins have tongues with small barbs (thorn like structures) pointing backwards, which help to grasp prey and prevent it from slipping away.

Camouflage

A penguin's black and white feathers are for self-protection in the sea.

The black feathers on their backs help camouflage them into the ocean (from predators looking down at them).

The white feathers on their bellies help camouflage them into the light-coloured surface of the water (from predators below them). This type of camouflage is also known as countershading.

Salt Water

Penguins can drink salt water because they have special glands in their nose that excrete (filter out) salt.

Moulting

Sometimes penguin’s feathers can look different to what we expect. This is usually because they are moulting – they are shedding old feathers to make way for new feathers.

Over time penguins feathers become worn and need to be replaced with new ones. Unlike most birds which lose a few feathers at a time, penguins have a catastrophic moult which means moulting (shedding) all their feathers at once.

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Family Life

Humboldt penguins are very social and live in large colonies. 'They are usually monogamous (mate with one partner). Breeding occurs throughout the year with eggs incubating for about 40 days. Chicks are cared for by both parents.

Baby name

Chick

Gestation (pregnancy) period

Incubation period (time to hatching) of approximately 40 days.

Number of young at birth

Normal clutch of 2 eggs twice a year.

Age at maturity

2-3 years of age.

Size male adult

Male Humboldt penguins are up to 70cm long and weigh up to 6kg.

Size female adult

Female Humboldt penguins are smaller than the males.

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Conservation

Vulnerable

The Humboldt penguin is listed as Vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature

Current population estimate

Estimated that there are 23,800 Humboldt penguins in the wild.

Threats

The Humboldt penguin is under threat from industrial fishing activities. These activities reduce the amount of fish available to penguins for food. Penguins sometimes also get caught in or harmed by fishing nets.

They are also threatened by humans removing guano (sea bird poo that Humboldt penguins make their nests from and lay eggs in).

The arrival of rats to their wild habitats has also reduced chick populations.

Oil spills and climate change are also a threat.

What is Dublin Zoo doing?

Dublin Zoo provides funding for Humboldt penguin conservation through our conservation partner, Sphenisco, which works to protect Humboldt penguins.

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Dublin Zoo penguins venture out into the snow

https://www.facebook.com/DublinZoo/videos/10157172847458136/

Penguin webcam

Watch the colony of Humboldt penguins at Dublin Zoo live!
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FAQs

  • Why is the Humboldt penguin endangered?

    The Humboldt penguin is under threat from industrial fishing activities.

    They are also threatened by humans removing guano (sea bird poo that Humboldt penguins make their nests from and lay eggs in).

    The arrival of rats to their wild habitats has also reduced chick populations.

    Oil spills and climate change are also a threat.

  • What does the Humboldt penguin eat?

    Humboldt penguins feed on sardines, anchovies, squid, crab and shrimp.

  • How do Humboldt penguins protect themselves?

    Humboldt penguins live in large colonies which helps protect them from predators such as gulls, sharks, leopard seals and fur seals.

  • How long do Humboldt penguins live?

    Humboldt penguins live approximately 15-20 years in zoos. Little is known about their lifespan in the wild

  • Do penguins have knees?

    Yes, penguins have knees. The leg is composed of a short femur, knee, tibia and fibula. The upper leg bone is not visible as it is covered in feathers.

  • Are penguins birds?

    Penguins are aquatic birds adapted to live in the water.

  • Can penguins fly?

    No, penguins cannot fly, but they can swim using their flippers.

  • Are penguins mammals?

    Penguins are not mammals, they are birds.

  • Do penguins have feathers?

    Penguins have stiff overlapping waterproof feathers.

  • Do penguins mate for life?

    Penguins are usually monogamous (mate with one partner).

  • How high can penguins jump?

    Some penguins can jump up to 1.8 meters high when going from water to shore.

  • What is a baby penguin called?

    A baby penguin is called a chick.

  • What is a group of penguins called?

    A group of penguins is called a colony

  • Do polar bears eat penguins?

    Polar bears do not eat penguins. This is because penguins and polar bears live in different areas in the wild and do not come across each other.

  • What eats penguins then?

    Penguins are eaten by gulls, sharks, leopard seals and fur seals.

  • Do penguins have teeth?

    Penguins do not have teeth. Instead, their tongue and throat have spiny structures that prevent food from slipping out of their mouth.

  • How many species of penguins are there?

    There are 17 species of penguin.

  • How tall are penguins?

    Humboldt penguins are up to 70 cm tall. Emperor penguins can reach 122 cm in height.

  • What does a penguin sound like?

    Humboldt penguins can recognise and find their partner and chicks in their large colony by their unique vocalisations (sounds).

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