African Penguin

African penguins mainly eat smaller species of fish that swim together in dense schools, like anchovies, herring, and mackerel. They will also hunt squid.

At the Zoo, they receive a diet of various fish, including anchovies and herring.

This species is found along the coast of Namibia and South Africa.

African penguins live in large colonies on rocky coastlines and islands. When swimming, they are usually found within 25 miles of the coast.

Cape fur seals and sharks may hunt penguins at sea. Gulls, ibis, snakes, and feral cats prey on African penguin eggs and chicks.

The initial decline in numbers was primarily caused by people harvesting African penguin eggs. Changes to their homes and disturbances from humans collecting nutrient-rich guano (bird droppings) for fertilizer at their breeding sites also significantly hurt their population. While those problems have mostly stopped, the main threats now are competition with the commercial fishing industry for prey fish in the open ocean and oil pollution.

African penguins have black feathers on their backs and white feathers with black markings on their chests and bellies. The white belly helps them blend in with the ocean’s surface when viewed from below, while the black back camouflages them against the dark water when viewed from above. They also have a white band that circles their eyes, stretching from their chin to their beak. Additionally, there's a black horseshoe-shaped band across their chests. Juvenile penguins start with gray-blue feathers that slowly turn black as they age.

African penguins are highly specialized for life in the water. Their bodies are streamlined for swimming, and their long, flat wings allow them to “fly” through the water. They use their tail, feet, and wings to steer. When hunting for prey, African penguins can reach a top speed of nearly 12 miles per hour. Dense, overlapping feathers help keep them warm and waterproof.

African penguins live in burrows they dig under rocks, sand, or plants. From September to February, they gather in special breeding areas called rookeries. Each penguin usually has just one mate at a time. The females pick their mates based on impressive mating displays performed by males. The male penguin uses visual signals and sounds to get the female's attention during these displays. If the female is interested, she will bow her head, and the male will do the same in response.

Pairs of African penguins return to the same nesting sites every year. Females typically lay two eggs, and both parents take turns incubating them for about 40 days. After the eggs hatch, the parents feed their chicks for about a month by regurgitating food into their mouths. The baby penguins are looked after in groups called crèches, which is common for birds that breed in large groups while their parents go out to find food. The young penguins usually leave the colony after they develop their adult feathers, which takes about 2 to 4 months.

African penguins, commonly called jackass penguins, got their nickname because of the loud, donkey-like sounds they make. They have three main types of calls: the bray, the yell, and the haw. The yell, a contact call, helps them defend their territory from other penguins in their colony. The bray, a display call, is used to attract mates and is often shared between partners. Penguins also perform special displays to mark their nesting areas and to help identify and protect their partners and chicks from intruders. Lastly, the haw call is used when one partner is on land while the other is in the water.

Penguins preen or straighten and clean their feathers to keep them healthy and free of parasites. They use their beaks and feet to preen themselves and other penguins, a process called allopreening.