African Penguin vs Little Penguin
Spheniscus demersus compared with Eudyptula minor
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | African Penguin | Little Penguin |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Spheniscus demersus | Eudyptula minor |
| Order | Sphenisciformes | Sphenisciformes |
| Family | Spheniscidae | Spheniscidae |
| Conservation Status | Endangered | Least Concern |
| Length | 60.0 cm (23.6 in) | — |
| Wingspan | 42.0 cm (16.5 in) | 13.4 cm (5.3 in) |
| Weight | 3100.0 g (109.35 oz) | 1321.6666666666667 g (46.62 oz) |
| Diet | Small schooling fish, especially sardines and anchovies. Forages within 40 km of the colony, diving … | -- |
| Clutch Size | 2 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
African Penguin
Rocky coastlines and offshore islands of southern Africa. Nests in burrows, under boulders, or in surface scrapes.
Song & Call Comparison
African Penguin
A loud, donkey-like braying 'waaah-waaah' — hence its nickname 'jackass penguin'. Also gives softer grunts and contact calls at the colony. Highly vocal on breeding beaches.
Little Penguin
Geographic Range & Migration
African Penguin
Coastal southwestern Africa from Namibia to Port Elizabeth, South Africa. The only penguin species breeding in Africa.
Little Penguin
Conservation Status
African Penguin
Little Penguin
How to Tell Them Apart
African Penguin
Black upperparts and white underparts with a distinctive black horseshoe-shaped band across the breast. Pink patches of bare skin above the eyes help with thermoregulation.
Sturdy, pointed, black bill with a grey band near the tip
Little Penguin
About These Birds
African Penguin
The African penguin is the only penguin species native to the African continent, also called the jackass penguin for its donkey-like braying call. Their population has plummeted over 95% since pre-industrial times due to egg collection, oil spills, and competition with commercial fisheries for sardine and anchovy stocks.
Little Penguin
Little Penguin, 30–40 cm, is the world's smallest penguin, found in southern Australia and New Zealand. Blue-grey upperparts, white below. Returns to burrows only after dark to avoid aerial predators. Piscivore; dives to 70 m for small fish and cephalopods. Resident near breeding sites year-round.