Beyond the story
A coastline full of penguin stories
Chile is home to several kinds of penguin. Humboldt penguins breed along the Pacific coast of Chile and Peru. Magellanic penguins gather in southern Chile, including on Isla Magdalena. At Puñihuil, Humboldt and Magellanic penguins share a breeding area.
Where is home?
A penguin’s world includes both sea and shore. Chile’s Humboldt penguins use coastal islands and rocky nesting places, then head out to sea to find food. Their home is tied to the cold, productive Humboldt Current—not simply to snow and ice.
A life in the wild
Humboldt penguins eat small fish such as anchovies and sardines. They depend on healthy seas for food and safe places ashore to raise chicks. Their lives connect two habitats, so protecting a nesting island also means thinking about the waters around it.
A future worth protecting
Overfishing can reduce their food supply, while fishing nets and disturbance around breeding colonies create other risks. Protecting coastal nesting areas and marine habitats helps give these birds room to thrive.
Wildlife facts and further reading:
Chile Travel · Penguins of Chile (opens in a new tab)Oceana · Humboldt penguins (opens in a new tab)
