Humboldt Penguin

Humboldt penguins specialize in hunting schools of fish that live in open water, such as anchovy, herring, silversides, and squid.

At the Zoo, they are offered a variety of thawed fish, including capelin, trout, herring, smelt, anchovies, sardines and smelt.

The species is found along the coast of Peru and southern Chile in South America.

Humboldt penguins live mainly along the coasts and spend different amounts of time in the water based on whether they are raising chicks. Non-breeding penguins spend far more time in the water and take longer foraging trips than those without chicks.

These penguins must come ashore to rest, breed, and care for their young. The rocky Pacific coast of South America is known for its large deposits of guano, which is nutrient-rich waste from penguins. Penguins often choose these areas for nesting but will sometimes utilize caves along the shore.

In the ocean, Humboldt penguins can be preyed on by sharks, fur seals, and sea lions. On land, their nests face threats from feral cats, dogs, foxes, snakes, gulls, and rodents. Sometimes, these animals will also try to catch juvenile or smaller adult penguins.

Historically, Humboldt penguin populations decreased significantly due to the degradation of their nesting habitats as humans over-harvested the dense guano (bird droppings) beds for agriculture. Over thousands of years, millions of seabirds gathered in the dry climate of their native range, where their droppings piled up and created rich guano beds. The Incas used this nutrient-rich guano for their advanced farming methods. In 1804, Alexander Von Humboldt, a German naturalist and traveler, took samples of guano back to Europe, and its properties as a fertilizer were rediscovered. Unfortunately, the guano and the birds were overexploited in the century that followed. Eventually, the Peruvian government set up a guano administration to protect the islands and the penguins.

Prey availability, industrial fishing activity, and human disturbances threaten current Humboldt penguin populations. The weather patterns in their habitat naturally change, affecting the Humboldt Current, which leads to changes in the amount of food available for penguins and other marine animals. Climate change makes these weather patterns happen more often and with greater strength, making it harder for penguins to bounce back from challenging circumstances. Additionally, industrial fishing takes away fish that penguins rely on for food, and these penguins can also get caught and drown in fishing nets.

Humboldt penguins have blackish-gray feathers on their backs and a white underside, with a solid black breast band across their chest. This coloring helps them blend in and protects them from predators above and below the water. They have black heads with white stripes under their eyes that curve around the sides of their heads and meet at the chin, forming a horseshoe shape. There is also a bare band of pink skin at the base of their beaks, which helps to keep them cool. Their bodies are covered with curved feathers that overlap like roof tiles, which keeps them dry and warm. These short feathers average about 100 per square inch, helping to keep cold water out. The penguins also have an oil gland at the base of their tail that helps with waterproofing.

Humboldt penguins have torpedo-shaped bodies and strong wings, allowing them to swim quickly. Unlike birds that fly, penguins have solid bones, which help them dive deep and stay underwater while hunting. They can move their wings either at the same time or one after the other; one wing may slow them down while the other pushes them forward, allowing for sharp turns. Their webbed feet are used mainly for steering, while their paddle-shaped wings act as propellers. They can swim in bursts of 20 to 25 mph, dive close to 200 ft, and hold their breath for 2 to 4 minutes.

Humboldt penguins are known to be monogamous, meaning they usually have one partner for life. Although they generally stay with one mate, sometimes a female might look for another male to mate with. They breed year-round, but activity peaks in April and August.

Humboldt penguins often burrow into the thick layers of guano (penguin feces) found along the shoreline or use existing crevices and caves to protect their eggs from the intense sun and predators. Their nests are sparingly lined with pebbles, pieces of wood, fish bones, and scales. The female lays two whiteish eggs per clutch. The female lays two white-ish eggs, and both parents take turns attending the nest for about six weeks until they hatch.

The chicks are born with thick down feathers. The parents feed their chicks by regurgitating food. They must find enough food for their chicks while also taking care of themselves. To manage this, they take short trips to gather food for the chicks and longer trips to feed themselves. The young penguins grow quickly and leave the nest when they are about 10 to 12 weeks old. Once they fledge, they can swim and dive underwater for the first time, becoming independent.

Humboldt penguins are very vocal and have unique calls that help them recognize each other, even in large groups. They also have a good sense of smell, which they use to find family members and identify familiar burrows where they live.

Molting is when they shed their old feathers and grow new ones. This is important because their feathers keep them warm and dry in the water. During the two-week molting period, the penguins do not eat because they cannot go into the water to find food.

Humboldt penguins are very social creatures and often live in large groups, except when they are out looking for food. Their feeding habits change depending on whether they have chicks to raise. Penguins without young can travel farther away to find food, which allows them to spend more time away from the group. However, penguins who are taking care of their chicks usually go on shorter trips.