Humboldt Penguin

Spheniscus humboldti

THE FLIGHTLESS MASTER SWIMMER

The Humboldt penguin is named after the nutrient-rich Humboldt Current, which runs along the coast off Chile and Peru – a species that you can also experience here at the zoo.

Naming it after an ocean current makes good sense, because the Humboldt penguin is extremely well-adapted to life in water. The flightless bird moves with great grace below the surface of the sea and can spend up to 60 hours at a time in the ocean. In practice, however, it rarely stays in the water for that long, but often returns to land to rest.

The Humboldt penguin’s torpedo-shaped body makes it streamlined and fast in the water. When hunting, it can reach a top speed of up to 35 km/h – a speed that is effective when catching anchovies, other small fish and squid.

The high swimming speed and the long stays in the cold ocean water require a robust plumage. The Humboldt penguin’s feathers are short and close-fitting and contain an insulating layer of air that helps retain heat. The upper side is dark gray, almost black, while the belly is white with characteristic black spots on the chest. The combination of a dark back and light belly acts as effective camouflage, making the penguin difficult to spot from both above and below when swimming.

The breast spots are unique, and no two Humboldt penguins are alike. At the same time, each penguin’s personal scent and call make it possible for conspecifics to recognize each other in large colonies.

Humboldt penguins breed in large colonies. The males arrive at the breeding site first and carefully select a suitable nesting site. When the females arrive, they choose the male who has secured the best nesting opportunity. Humboldt penguins return year after year to the same breeding site, and the female will typically choose the same male as the previous year. For this reason, the species is often considered to mate for life.

The female lays 1-2 eggs, which the male and female take turns incubating for about 40 days. While one incubates, the other goes in search of food. When the young hatch, they stay in the rock cave until, after 10-12 weeks, they are ready to leave the nest and head out to sea.

QUICK FACTS ABOUT THE HUMBOLDT PENGUIN

Incubation period: 40 days
Habitat: West coast of South America, coastal areas
Diet: Fish, squid and crustaceans
Lifespan: 15-20 years
Weight: 4 kg
Height: 65-70 cm

NORTH POLE? NO THANKS

All penguin species, including the Humboldt penguin, live south of the equator. There are no penguins at the North Pole.

NEW PLUMAGE, NEW ME

Before the breeding season begins, all Humboldt penguins must molt. The old, worn feathers are shed and replaced by a new, dense plumage. The molting can last up to a couple of weeks, and during this period the penguins cannot go foraging in the sea. They therefore stay on land and have to starve until the plumage is fully developed and they can hunt in the water again.

Humboldt penguin in the water with a fish in its mouth at Copenhagen Zoo

STATUS IN NATURE

The Humboldt penguin is vulnerable.

GET VERY CLOSE TO THE HUMBOLDT PENGUIN

Want to get up close and personal with Humboldt penguins? With our Close encounters with the penguins experience, you can go behind the scenes, learn about the flightless birds, and help hand-feed them fish.

Buy the Close encounter

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