What does the Magellanic Penguin eat?

The Magellanic Penguin's diet shapes where and when you'll find it. Understanding what it eats helps you predict where to look.

Diet overview

Primarily fish (e.g., anchovies, sardines, hake), squid, and crustaceans (e.g., krill).

How it forages

Pursuit diver, excellent swimmer. Forages solitarily or in groups, diving to depths of 20-50 meters, but capable of deeper dives (up to 100 meters). They use their powerful flippers for propulsion and their webbed feet for steering. Prey is swallowed whole underwater.

When it feeds

Diurnal, actively foraging during daylight hours. Nesting activity is also primarily diurnal, though pairs may be active at their burrows at night, especially during incubation.

Explore the Magellanic Penguin