Humboldt Penguin

Spheniscus humboldti

Humboldt penguins are an endangered species found along the rocky coast of Peru and Chile in the Humboldt Current (after which they are named). This current flows northward along the west coast of South America, bringing low salinity and nutrient-rich water from Antarctica. These penguins nest on islands and rocky coasts, burrowing holes in guano.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION

Humboldt Penguins are medium-sized growing to 28 inches long and weighing 10 lbs. They have a black head with a white border running from behind the eye, around the black ear-coverts and chin, to join on the throat. They have blackish-grey upperparts and whitish underparts. They have a fleshy-pink base to the bill.

All penguins have a white belly and a dark back. A predator looking up from below (such as an orca or a leopard seal) has difficulty distinguishing between a white penguin belly and the reflective water surface. The dark feathers on their backs camouflage them from predators from above.

DIET IN THE WILD

Humbolts in zoos are hand fed fish such as capelin, smelt, and herring. Each penguin will eat between 1-2 lbs. of fish daily.

HABITAT

The majority species of penguins live where it is cold, but Humboldt penguins are definitely different. They live along the desert coast of Peru and Chile in South America. The coast is where one of the world’s driest deserts meets one of the world’s most fertile oceans.

Humboldt penguins spend most of their time in the ocean, primarily in the Humboldt Current. The Humboldt Current is a long, narrow flow of cool water that runs north from Antarctica. In the ocean, these penguins are graceful and quick swimmers. On land they waddle awkwardly, but they are able to hop and jump among the rocks and sand to get around.

BEHAVIOR

Humboldt penguins are shy but social birds. They live in colonies during the nesting season, and hunt in groups when at sea. Like other social animals, being able to communicate with their neighbor is important, especially in the nesting colony where nests are only a few feet apart! Humboldt penguins communicate through a variety of calls: they bray like a donkey, they trumpet, and they grunt. When two penguins are really close together, they get their message across through body displays, such as flipper waving and bowing.

Humboldt penguins have a body ideal for swimming. Using their strong wings, they "fly" underwater, usually just below the surface, at speeds of up to 20 miles per hour. They steer with their feet and tail. Their feathers are stiff and overlap to waterproof and insulate their body. Humboldt penguins, like all penguins, can see easily underwater and on land.

In zoos, Humboldt penguins usually live in fresh water. Living only in fresh water does not affect the penguins' health.

STATUS IN THE WILD / CONSERVATION EFFORTS

It is estimated that there are only 12,000 Humboldt penguins have survived in the wild. Currently, there are only 16 zoos in the country that house 292 Humboldt penguins. These zoos include Denver, Philadelphia, Sea World, and Santa Barbara. In 2009, there were 20 Humboldt penguin chicks born in zoos.

In 1982-1983, El Niño Southern Oscillation reduced the population from 19,000-21,000 birds to 5,180-6,080. By 1995-1996, the population had increased to 10,000-12,000 birds, mainly at Punta San Juan. The 1997-1998 El Niño again reduced the population again to 3,300 birds. During El Niño periods, cool, nutrient-rich waters warm, forcing prey species of fish to go elsewhere in search of food. As a result, penguins die of starvation.

Humboldt penguins are endangered due to humans disrupting their habitats and the fishing industry. Humboldt penguins make their nests out of guano, or bird droppings. This guano is a valuable fertilizer used in agriculture. Humans disrupt the penguins by removing and destroying the guano during nesting season.

Humboldt penguins also must compete with the offshore fishing industry in Peru and Chile and they often get caught in fishing nets and drown. Many of these fishing boats are overfishing for anchovies (a major food source of the Humboldt penguin) at a faster rate than they can reproduce, depleting their population.

Photo credit: JoelSartore.com