Facts about Magellanic penguin

1. 07

   Monogamous pairs of Magellanic penguins return to the same burrows year after year, with some individuals maintaining partnerships for over 15 consecutive breeding seasons.

   Magellanic penguinMay 14sharebehaviorreproductionbiology
2. 06

   Oil from a Magellanic penguin's preen gland waterproofs their feathers, requiring the bird to spend up to 20 percent of daylight hours grooming and maintaining plumage.

   Magellanic penguinMay 14sharebiologybehavioradaptation
3. 05

   Magellanic penguin chicks fledge at approximately 60 days old, gaining enough weight and waterproofing to survive in the cold South Atlantic Ocean.

   Magellanic penguinMay 14sharebiologydevelopmentreproduction
4. 04

   Braying calls produced by Magellanic penguins during breeding season can reach 125 decibels, making them among the loudest bird species relative to their body size.

   Magellanic penguinMay 14sharebehaviorsoundbiology
5. 03

   Around 4,000 kilometers annually, Magellanic penguins migrate between their breeding colonies in southern South America and feeding grounds off the coast of Brazil during non-breeding months.

   Magellanic penguinMay 14sharemigrationbehaviormeasurement
6. 02

   Magellanic penguins can dive to depths exceeding 500 feet while hunting fish and squid in the cold Atlantic waters.

   Magellanic penguinMay 14sharebehaviordivingocean
7. 01

   Approximately 1.5 million Magellanic penguins breed along the coasts of Argentina and Chile each breeding season.

   Magellanic penguinMay 14sharebiologymeasurementpopulation