Humboldt penguin | Chester Zoo animals

About

Not all penguins live in cold countries – Humboldt penguins are found in South America!

These penguins are social animals and in the wild live in relatively large colonies along the coast of Chile and Peru.

Penguins are one of the most recognisable birds in the world – their black and white feathers help camouflage them in the water with their backs blending in with the water from above and their front mixing with the sunlight from below.

Penguins are astonishingly good swimmers – and can shoot through the water thanks to their torpedo-shaped bodies and wings which have act as flippers. They can’t breathe underwater, but they’re able to hold their breath for long periods of time.

Humboldt penguins in winter at Chester Zoo

Humboldt penguin facts

SPECIES

I am a bird

Humboldt penguins spend up to 75% of their lives in water

FOUND IN

South America

Humboldt penguins are found along the Pacific coast of Chile and Peru.

HABITAT

Islands and rocky coasts

Humboldt penguins breed on clifftops, caverns and beaches due to their proximity to water, vegetation and food sources.

DIET

Carnivores

Humboldt penguins mostly dine on small fish and crustaceans.

BEHAVIOUR

Highly social and communicative

Humboldt penguins are highly social and communicative birds, gathering in large colonies, providing them protection from predators. They are excellent swimmers and see well both underwater and on land.

AVERAGE SIZE

63 - 71cm tall

Typically, they weigh 3 - 6kg with their weight fluctuating throughout the year depending on when there's an increased intake of food, and just before they begin to moult.

LIFE SPAN

12 – 15 years

Although with human care, they can live for up to 20 years.

ZOO LOCATION

Next to the Latin American Wetland Aviary

And near the giant otters.

IUCN red list statusVulnerable

Threats

Overfishing of anchovies is threatening penguin survival – Humboldt penguin numbers have decreased by around 85% in the last 40 years, and the population is still going down.

In the wild, Peruvian anchovies are a vital food source for penguins. They are also the most heavily overfished fish in world history.

In Peru and Chile, anchovies are fished in gigantic and unsustainable numbers. Most of the catch goes to feed livestock like pigs. Humans only actually eat about 2% of what is caught. Nearly 80% of the world’s fish stocks have been over exploited. This is a big threat to marine wildlife and habitats, including seabirds.

You can make sure all the fish you buy is from sustainably-managed stocks by checking the logos on the packaging. They guarantee that the fish is caught or farmed responsibly, with minimum damage to the marine environment.

Human intervention

Hunting or collection

Climate change & severe weather

Mating habits in Humboldt penguins

Many penguins are monogamous, whether for a breeding cycle or for life. Because they live in colonies it isn’t necessarily hard to find a partner, but courtship can last for two to three weeks before a nest has been prepared and mating occurs.

Incubation period is around 40 days. Once an egg is produced, it takes about three days before the chick hatches and then the parents must feed and warm the baby chick, which hatches blind and without feathers. Soft downy feathers start to appear after a few weeks.

A Young Girl And Boy Looking Into The Glass Of The Penguin Pool

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Penguin Experience

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Two Children Looking Into Orangutan Habitat

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