Habitat

Their home is made on the rocky islands and coastlines of their range. Most of their time is spent in the water though returning to the shore only to rest and breed.

Reproduction

Breeding occurs either between March and April or September and October for this species dependent on location. Pairs are monogamous and males are responsible for making the nest. This is built in sand, guano or a crevice in a cave. The female returns a few days after the male and uses vocalizations to find her mate and their nest.

At times males may lose their mates. On occasions a male will force a pair out of their nest in a process known as usurping. They then chase the male away and take over his female.

On occasion pairs of males have been known to pair bond. These males may then take over abandoned nests and raise the chicks on their own.

Females deposit two eggs into the nest which then take 39 days to hatch. Both adult parents will sit on the nest during this time. The two eggs will often have a couple of days in between hatching. Chicks are born with thick downy feathers.

The parents provide care to their chicks for approximately three months. They do not leave the nest till this time. At this point they are ready to fledge and make their first trip out to sea. To feed the chicks parents go out to sea to forage and then return to regurgitate the food for the chicks. They will also take longer trips to feed themselves.

Sexual maturity is achieved at 2 years old. When chicks are ready to mate they often do so at the same place where they were born.

Behavior

Prior to mating the penguins will come to the shore for their molt. This is where their feathers are replaced and for two weeks they are not waterproof. During this time they must remain on the shore and do not eat.

Humboldt penguins form large colonies. These will do most things together with the exclusion of foraging.

When swimming the Humboldt penguin may reach speeds of up 32 km/hr (20mph). They are able to dive to 150m (492ft) but rarely go past 60m (197ft). When hunting they may spend a number of days at sea.

These penguins have three calls a contact call, display call and threat call.

Predators of the Humboldt penguin include sharks, sea lions and fur seals while at sea. On land their nests may be raided by feral cats, domestic dogs, foxes, gulls, snakes and rodents. Their main defense is the large colonies which they live in.

Quick facts

Humboldt penguins are also referred to as the Peruvian Penguin and the Patranca.

These penguins are named for the Humboldt current which flows down the coastline where they live. This is in turn named for naturalist Alexander von Humboldt.

During 2012 a penguin escaped from Tokyo Sea Life Park in Japan. Known as #337 he was recaptured during May 2012 after 82 days of living in Tokyo Bay.