Magellanic Penguin (Spheniscus magellanicus)

    Magellanic penguins grow to be 28 to 30 inches and weigh 8.8 to 13 pounds. A magellanic penguin can live up to 25 years. They have a horseshoe shaped band on their front and a black band that goes down their chin. They have a short tail and long wedge shape wings or flippers which makes them amazing swimmers that can go 15 miles per hour. During the warmer seasons they lose their feather in the eye area and when the weather becomes colder those feather grow back. This fascinating creature is near threatened of extinction.

    Magellanic Penguins live around the coast of Chile, Argentina, and the Falkland Islands. Most of a penguin’s life is spent at sea unless they come on the shore to breed forming large colonies.

    Magellanic penguins hunt in groups for fish, squid, and crustaceans. They make shallow dives looking for their prey.