Humboldt Penguin (Spheniscus humboldti)
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Humboldt Penguin

Spheniscus humboldti Meyen, 1834

4.4 kgWeight

The Humboldt penguin (Spheniscus humboldti) is a medium-sized penguin.

Busiest months: November · Most records: Chile, Peru

Vulnerable

Where and when it's recorded

Busiest months: November · Most records: Chile, Peru

Humboldt Penguin has been recorded at 38 of the 8,276 birding hotspots we track, in 2 countries and regions.

Records by month Southern Hemisphere

Where it's recorded most

  1. Isla PucusanaPeru837 records
  2. MN Islotes de PuñihuilChile653 records
  3. Quintero – PelágicoChile541 records
More places
  1. Valparaíso – PelágicoChile321 records
  2. Refugio de Vida Silvestre Los Pantanos de Villa – Laguna Costera y Playa MarvillaPeru129 records
  3. Reñaca – MontemarChile116 records
  4. Estero MantaguaChile84 records
  5. Río Lluta – DesembocaduraChile59 records
  6. Transbordador Pargua-ChacaoChile37 records
  7. Refugio de Vida Silvestre Los Pantanos de VillaPeru33 records

Countries and regions with the most records

ChilePeru

eBird records via GBIF up to 2024-12-31. A record means someone listed it; more records partly mean more birders, not more birds.

About

The Humboldt penguin (Spheniscus humboldti) is a medium-sized penguin. It resides in South America, along the Pacific coast of Peru and Chile. Its nearest relatives are the African penguin, the Magellanic penguin and the Galápagos penguin.

Excerpt from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0 · authors · Read more on Wikipedia

Questions

How big is the Humboldt Penguin?

The Humboldt Penguin weighs around 4.4 kg.

Where does the Humboldt Penguin live?

Its breeding range: South America: coastal northern Peru to central Chile. It is most often recorded in Chile and Peru.

When is the best time to see the Humboldt Penguin?

At the hotspots we track, it is recorded most in November (Southern Hemisphere).

Is the Humboldt Penguin endangered?

The IUCN Red List classifies the Humboldt Penguin as Vulnerable.

What does the Humboldt Penguin eat?

Main food: Fish, shrimp & shellfish.

What family is the Humboldt Penguin in?

It belongs to the family Penguins (Spheniscidae), order Sphenisciformes.

At a glance

Weight
4.4 kg
Habitat
Ocean
Diet
Fish, shrimp & shellfish
Lifestyle
On the water surface
Migration
Partial migrant
Conservation
Vulnerable
More measurements
Wing
105 mm
Tail
28 mm
Bill
64 mm
Tarsus
39 mm

Averages from the AVONET dataset; length from field guides where available.

Range

South America: coastal northern Peru to central Chile

Breeding range, IOC World Bird List 15.2

Classification

Family
Penguins Spheniscidae
Genus
Spheniscus

Other birds in the genus Spheniscus

Galapagos PenguinGalapagos PenguinSpheniscus mendiculusMagellanic PenguinMagellanic PenguinSpheniscus magellanicusAfrican PenguinAfrican PenguinSpheniscus demersusKing PenguinKing PenguinAptenodytes patagonicusEmperor PenguinEmperor PenguinAptenodytes forsteriAdelie PenguinAdelie PenguinPygoscelis adeliaeChinstrap PenguinChinstrap PenguinPygoscelis antarcticusGentoo PenguinGentoo PenguinPygoscelis papuaLittle PenguinLittle PenguinEudyptula minorYellow-eyed PenguinYellow-eyed PenguinMegadyptes antipodes
Humboldt Penguin

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Free to use with credit: “Illustration: Bird Album (birdalbum.com)”. Drawn by AI from a reference photo by jmclatchie. ↗

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