Photo: Jim Ross, NASA / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Magellanic Penguin
Spheniscus magellanicus
Magellanic Penguin (Spheniscus magellanicus) — Penguins of South America.
Found across 3 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Magellanic Penguin (Spheniscus magellanicus) is a member of the Spheniscidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 4.1 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Sphenisciformes
- Family Spheniscidae Penguins
- Genus Spheniscus
- Species magellanicus
Where it lives
Coastal central Chile and central Argentina to Cape Horn and Falkland Is.
Quick facts
- Weight
- 4.1 kg
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Spheniscidae
- Order
- Sphenisciformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Vulnerable
Critically Endangered
Endangered
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Magellanic 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 Magellanic Penguin is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Magellanic Penguin (Spheniscus magellanicus) belongs to the Spheniscidae family of the order Sphenisciformes. Its range spans South America. Its distribution covers SA coastal c Chile and c Argentina to Cape Horn and Falkland Is.
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 4.1 kg, with a wing length of about 11 cm and a tail of around 2.3 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 941,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Magellanic Penguin?
The Magellanic Penguin is a very large bird that weighs around 4.1 kg.
Where does the Magellanic Penguin live?
The Magellanic Penguin is found across South America with a range covering SA coastal c Chile and c Argentina to Cape Horn and Falkland Is, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Magellanic Penguin belong to?
The Magellanic Penguin (Spheniscus magellanicus) belongs to the Spheniscidae family, in the order Sphenisciformes.
What does the Magellanic Penguin eat?
The Magellanic Penguin hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Magellanic Penguin migrate?
The Magellanic Penguin is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Magellanic Penguin endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Magellanic Penguin make?
1 real field recording of the Magellanic Penguin — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Magellanic Penguin's range?
The Magellanic Penguin has a mapped global range of about 941,000 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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