Penguins In Argentina – 4 Excellent Patagonia Penguins

4 Penguins in Argentina

Gentoo Penguin

Gentoo Penguins are medium-sized birds with characteristic bright orange bills. They are rather common in certain parts of Argentina, with more than 500 records of this species from the country as per eBird data.

Individuals are known to move around during the nonbreeding season, but they are not as nomadic as many other penguin species. Still, this Argentina penguin has been recorded as far north as Puerto Piramides. However, most Gentoo Penguins in Argentina are reported in Tierra del Fuego, as this part of Patagonia represents the northern extent of their breeding range. The majority of Gentoo Penguins breed in Antarctica during mating season.

Gentoo Penguins regularly forage in places such as the Beagle Canal, while Isla Martillo is one of the best spots to see Patagonian penguins – including breeding Gentoo Penguins. These Patagonia, Argentina penguins tend to forage closer to land compared to other penguins, so observant birders may be able to spot Gentoo Penguins that are out at sea.

King Penguin

King Penguins are magnificent, spectacular Patagonia penguins. They are the second-largest penguins in the world, making them easily identifiable within Argentina. Here, there have been nearly 400 eBird observations of these Patagonian penguins. King Penguins are not known to breed in Argentina despite being breeding penguins in Chile. No matter, they can still be infrequently spotted on beaches in Argentina.

The most northerly reports of King Penguins in Argentina involve two separate accounts near Necochea. There have consistently been a couple of King Penguins on Isla Martillo in the past few years, so you may be fortunate enough to spot this Argentina penguin if you visit. Lucky birders may spot these Patagonia penguins as they swim out at sea, but such an occurrence is rare, as they don’t typically forage near shore.

Those who do see a King Penguin on land may be tempted to approach the bird, as they appear to be very friendly and tame. However, it is important to give King Penguins and any other Argentina penguins ample space – especially those who are seen north of their expected range. Single birds who come ashore north of their expected range are likely exhausted, so giving them plenty of space is a respectful thing to do.

Magellanic Penguin

Magellanic Penguins are by far the most common penguins in Argentina, as they have been reported on more than 5,000 eBird checklists. They are common penguins in Chile and Argentina alike. Moreover, their range is far more extensive in Patagonia, as they breed from Chubut to the southern extent of Argentina. Magellanic Penguins in the winter wander further north than other Patagonia penguins, and they have been observed as far north as Rio de Janeiro.

One interesting aspect of Magellanic Penguin breeding ecology is that these creatures breed in burrows. Although species in other parts of the world nest in underground burrows, Magellanic Penguins are the only species in Argentina that display such breeding behavior.

Despite breeding underground, they still breed within sizable colonies. Indeed, one colony in Chubut is estimated to contain more than 500,000 breeding birds. A separate colony south at Punta Tombo once contained an excess of 2 million Magellanic Penguins, and though numbers have declined, these Argentine penguins are still common.

Southern Rockhopper Penguin

There have been shy of 300 Southern Rockhopper Penguin observations in Argentina as per eBird data, but don’t let this number fool you; these penguins are far more numerous than both King Penguins and Gentoo Penguins in Argentina. In fact, there are a couple of Southern Rockhopper Penguin colonies in Argentina that contain thousands of birds.

Southern Rockhopper Penguins are the only Argentina penguins on this list that have plumes on their heads that form a crest. Yes, these penguins in Patagonia are very memorable with their yellow feathers, but few get the chance to observe these birds since they are rarely observed from mainland Argentina.

Those hoping to view Southern Rockhopper Penguins in Argentina should consider checking out one of two breeding colonies. The first breeding colony is located on Isla de los Estados – a rather inaccessible breeding colony off the east coast of Argentina’s southern tip. The more accessible and exciting Patagonian penguin breeding colony is located on Isla Pinguino–aka Penguin Island–near Puerto Deseado. Here, thousands of Southern Rockhopper Penguins breed in large colonies.

Where To See Penguins In Argentina

I’ve already touched on some of the best places to view Argentina penguins, but if you’re still curious, I will summarize below. 

First, does Argentina have penguins throughout the country? No, Argentinian penguins cannot be found throughout the nation. However, are there penguins in Patagonia? Well, if you’ve been reading all of the article, then you’ll know that yes – there are Argentine penguins that can be found here!

In fact, Patagonia is the best place to view the different types of penguins in Argentina. Those hoping to view Patagonia penguins should investigate any one of these spots to see penguins in Argentina:

• Punta Tombo

• Punta Norte

• Isla Pinguino

• Isla de los Estados

• Isla Martillo

• Beagle Canal

Remember, viewing penguins during the winter (June-August) is not optimal, as most of these creatures will be foraging out at sea during this time. Moreover, this season presents the most logistical challenges for viewing Argentina penguins.

Therefore, try to plan a penguin-viewing trip in the spring or summer (from September through February), as this will present the best chance for a birder to find one of these flightless birds. Ultimately, Argentina presents perhaps the best opportunity for birders to view penguins in South America, as Argentinian penguins are diverse and numerous.