African Penguin vs Magellanic Penguin
Spheniscus demersus compared with Spheniscus magellanicus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | African Penguin | Magellanic Penguin |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Spheniscus demersus | Spheniscus magellanicus |
| 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) | 21.9 cm (8.6 in) |
| Weight | 3100.0 g (109.35 oz) | 4585.0 g (161.73 oz) |
| Diet | Small schooling fish, especially sardines and anchovies. Forages within 40 km of the colony, diving … | -- |
| Clutch Size | 2 | 1-2 |
| 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.
Magellanic Penguin
Geographic Range & Migration
African Penguin
Coastal southwestern Africa from Namibia to Port Elizabeth, South Africa. The only penguin species breeding in Africa.
Magellanic Penguin
Conservation Status
African Penguin
Magellanic 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
Magellanic 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.
Magellanic Penguin
Magellanic Penguin, 61–76 cm, breeds in large colonies on the coasts of southern Argentina, Chile, and the Falkland Islands. Two black breast bands, white facial stripe. Migratory; winters northward to southeastern Brazil and the Chilean coast. Piscivore; dives for anchovies and squid. Near Threatened.