Photo: Christian Ursilva from København, Danmark / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Humboldt Penguin
Spheniscus humboldti
Humboldt Penguin (Spheniscus humboldti) — Penguins of South America.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Humboldt Penguin (Spheniscus humboldti) is a member of the Spheniscidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 4.4 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Vulnerable.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Sphenisciformes
- Family Spheniscidae Penguins
- Genus Spheniscus
- Species humboldti
Quick facts
- Weight
- 4.4 kg
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Spheniscidae
- Order
- Sphenisciformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Critically Endangered
Least Concern
Endangered
Endangered
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Humboldt Penguin hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of open sea and coastal waters, it swims and feeds in and around water.
Migration
The Humboldt Penguin is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Humboldt Penguin (Spheniscus humboldti) belongs to the Spheniscidae family of the order Sphenisciformes. It is found across South America. Its distribution covers SA coastal n Peru to c Chile.
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 4.4 kg, with a wing length of about 10.5 cm and a tail of around 2.8 cm.
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 73,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Humboldt Penguin?
The Humboldt Penguin is a very large bird that weighs around 4.4 kg.
Where does the Humboldt Penguin live?
The Humboldt Penguin is found across South America with a range covering SA coastal n Peru to c Chile, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Humboldt Penguin belong to?
The Humboldt Penguin (Spheniscus humboldti) belongs to the Spheniscidae family, in the order Sphenisciformes.
What does the Humboldt Penguin eat?
The Humboldt Penguin hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Humboldt Penguin migrate?
The Humboldt Penguin is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Humboldt Penguin endangered?
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
What sound does the Humboldt Penguin make?
1 real field recording of the Humboldt Penguin — including its alarm call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Humboldt Penguin's range?
The Humboldt Penguin has a mapped global range of about 73,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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