African Penguin vs Erect-crested Penguin
Spheniscus demersus compared with Eudyptes sclateri
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | African Penguin | Erect-crested Penguin |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Spheniscus demersus | Eudyptes sclateri |
| Order | Sphenisciformes | Sphenisciformes |
| Family | Spheniscidae | Spheniscidae |
| Conservation Status | Endangered | Endangered |
| Length | 60.0 cm (23.6 in) | — |
| Wingspan | 42.0 cm (16.5 in) | 22.3 cm (8.8 in) |
| Weight | 3100.0 g (109.35 oz) | 5529.0 g (195.03 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.
Erect-crested Penguin
Geographic Range & Migration
African Penguin
Coastal southwestern Africa from Namibia to Port Elizabeth, South Africa. The only penguin species breeding in Africa.
Erect-crested Penguin
Conservation Status
African Penguin
Erect-crested 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
Erect-crested 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.
Erect-crested Penguin
Erect-crested Penguin, 67–70 cm, breeds only on Bounty and Antipodes Islands southeast of New Zealand. Distinctive erect, brush-like yellow crest standing upright from eye to crown. Forages at sea for fish and squid; breeding biology poorly known due to remote location. Endangered; declining.