FaunaHub
VUVulnerablePartial review

Humboldt Penguin

Spheniscus humboldti

Humboldt penguin (Spheniscus humboldti), a black-and-white penguin.

Humboldt penguin (Spheniscus humboldti).

Image: Another one of my pictures: This photograph was taken by Medium69 (William Crochot) and re, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

At a glance

IUCN category
VU · Vulnerable
Animal group
Birds
Population trend
Decreasing
Last verified

Conservation overview

The Humboldt penguin is a medium-sized penguin of the cold Humboldt Current off South America. It is assessed as Vulnerable.

It depends on the rich fish populations the current supports.

Range & habitat

Coasts of Peru and Chile, along the cold Humboldt Current.

Major threats

Threats below are drawn from the authoritative sources listed on this page. For the current, complete assessment, see the IUCN Red List.

  • Overfishing of prey
  • Ocean changes such as El Niño
  • Disturbance and bycatch

Why it matters

A penguin tied to one of the world's most productive currents, the Humboldt penguin is a barometer for the health of the Peru-Chile marine ecosystem.

Gallery

A Humboldt penguin standing on rock.

Humboldt penguin (Spheniscus humboldti).

Image: Another one of my pictures: This photograph was taken by Medium69 (William Crochot) and re, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Sources

Sources for Humboldt Penguin

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does the Humboldt penguin live in such a warm region?
The cold, nutrient-rich Humboldt Current flows up the coasts of Peru and Chile, supporting huge fish populations that allow penguins to thrive despite the warm latitude.
Why is the Humboldt penguin Vulnerable?
Published assessments cite overfishing of its prey, ocean changes such as El Niño, and disturbance and bycatch. See the IUCN Red List.

Last updated: