A medium sized penguin (36 cm medium tall, 2 Kg weight), black with a white
frontside, semi-circular white swoops extend from behind the eyes and extend
around to meet under the chin. Plumage of males and females is identical.
Juvenile is gray and white, with white cheek-patches which fade as the penguin
matures. Chicks have light gray down. Males are generally slightly larger than
females. Black bill an feet.
They stay in the archipelago year-round, and go search for food during the day
and within a few kilometers of their breeding site. Nests are built in rocky
shores, using materials such as pebbles and twigs, usually in caves and
crevices, protected from direct sunlight to avoid overheating.
Mating can take place at any time of the year, and is limited by food supply or
molting requirements. Incubation of one or two eggs takes 38-42 days, with both
parents helping out. Chick rearing period is around 60 days. First breeding at 4
years old.
“Endangered” (IUCN Red List 2018). Catastrophic declines in Galapagos penguin
populations occurred mainy due to severe El Niño cycles and introduced
predators. The increasing severity of El Niño cycles (believed to be caused by
global warming) is the most serious threat to this species, because a
particularly severe cycle could result in extinction of Galapagos penguins.
Habitat degradation presumed egg and chick collection, potential competition and
incidental mortality in fisheries, introduced mammalian predators, and oil
pollution are other threats.
