Status: Vulnerable
Range: Chile, Columbia, Ecuador & Peru
Habitat: Rocky mainland shores
Diet: Fish such as Anchovies & Sardines, and krill
The Humboldt penguin can be found living in small colonies along the Humboldt Straight off the West coast of South America. These penguins stand at approximately 15 to 18 inches tall and weigh around 9lbs. The feathers are stiff and overlap to waterproof and insulate the body. They are black/ grey in colour with a white underside to act as camouflage against predators both above and below the water. Adults have a distinctive black horseshoe shaped band across their breast and a white head stripe.
Nests are made from a substance called Guano (penguin poo) in crevices between boulders. Both the parents take turns in caring for the eggs which take 40 days to incubate. Normally two eggs are laid at a time. Chicks are born with a thick coat of grey fluffy feathers. These feathers eventually turn to grey waterproof feathers. Each year all of the penguins go through a moult where they lose their feathers to be replaced with new ones.
In the water penguins can reach speeds of up to 20 mph. They use their feet and tail as a rudder to steer and turn in the water
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