Warm water swimmers
Magellanic – pronounced “madge-eh-lan-ick” – penguins are a South American penguin and one of 14 species of warm-weathered penguins.
Magellanic penguin
Spheniscus magellanicus
Status
Near Threatened
Activity Period
Diurnal
Classification
Bird
Habitat
Magellanic penguins split their time between the ocean and coastal beaches.
Range
Primarily found along the coastlines of Argentina and Chile and the Falkland Islands, although sometimes as far north as Brazil.
Life Expectancy
On average, these penguins live up to 15 years in the wild. Under human care, that can double.
Diet
Penguins loves seafood: fish, squid, and krill are top favorites in the wild. At Zoo Boise, herring, smelt, and capelin are on the menu.
Social Structure
Penguins are social birds. They rely on a variety of vocalizations to find their mates, chicks, and friends.
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