The long, skinny confines of Chile have hosted more than 550 bird species. The nation is largely shaped by the Andes Mountains, with the non-mountainous regions of Chile supporting deserts, evergreen forests, and more. Chile is certainly not the first place that comes to mind when people consider penguins, but are there penguins in Chile?
Yes, although it may seem shocking to some, there are definitely penguins in Chile! When you think about it, it makes sense that Chile would support penguin populations. After all, the southern extent of Chile is surrounded by cold, Antarctic waters. This makes Chile an appealing location for penguins, and although nine penguin species have been observed in the country, only five species breed here. So, what penguins live in Chile?
Well, if you’re interested in knowing about Patagonia penguins, you’ve come to the right place! I will go over each of the five breeding Chilean penguins, and I’ll also discuss where to see penguins in Chile. Let’s get started!
Table of Contents
5 Penguins in Chile
Humboldt Penguin
Humboldt Penguins breed along the extensive coastline of Chile, with this country supporting the majority of the global Humboldt Penguin population. The only other country supporting Humboldt Penguins is Peru – a country that supports more than 4,000 adult birds. Meanwhile, Chile is thought to host about 33,000 Humboldt Penguins.
The global population of Humboldt Penguins is thought to number fewer than 50,000 individuals, and these birds are sensitive to weather events and human disturbance. They look similar to Magellanic Penguins, but note the pink bill base and single breast band of Humboldt Penguins. Although they are considered to be Patagonia penguins, this species has never been recorded in Argentina.
Humboldt Penguins nest in burrows much like Magellanic Penguins. Their breeding range stretches from Los Lagos in the south through the northern extent of Chile. Some of the best breeding locations for these Chile penguins include Islote Pajaros Niños, Islote Punta de Piedra, Isla Cachagua, and Isla Choros. There have been about 3,500 Humboldt Penguins observed in Chile as per eBird data.
King Penguin
King Penguins are the most sought-after penguins in Chile, as they only breed in a single location in the country. This colony is present in the far southern tip of Chile in Magallenes. It is quite fascinating that the Chilean King Penguin colony exists, as the next closest breeding colony is present on the Falkland Islands, an area that is hundreds of kilometers away.
If you’re interested in viewing the King Penguin colony in Magallenes, check out Parque Pingüino Rey. In addition to viewing penguins here, this Chilean penguin may be found in the waters around Magallenes. This species occasionally shows up on beaches in central Chile, as there are records from around Bucalemu and Cartagena. However, the most northerly record is from Concón.
A mated pair of King Penguins invests a lot of energy into raising their chick. In fact, the endeavor takes more than one year. Therefore, King Penguins at some stage in their lives can be found at colonies throughout the year. The colony at Reserva Natural Pingüino Rey seems to be doing well, as a high count of 150 of these Chile penguins was reported in December of 2023.
Macaroni Penguin
Image attribution: “Macaroni Penguin amid Tussock Grass” by Liam Quinn is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
Macaroni Penguins are the most infrequently observed Chilean penguin, with only slightly more than 50 observations of these birds with funny names in Chile as per eBird data. Although Macaroni Penguins are not readily seen in Chile, these Patagonia penguins aren’t as scarce as it may seem.
The primary reason why Macaroni Penguins have been seen so few times is because the islands on which they breed are remote and inaccessible, making it difficult for birders to see this penguin in Chile. Although this may be frustrating for birders, consider that this isolation means that Macaroni Penguins don’t have to worry about being stressed by human visitors during breeding season.
Macaroni Penguins are always found among Southern Rockhoppper Penguin colonies in Chile. Although these Chile penguins are far less numerous than their rock-hopping cousins, they are still able to form small colonies. The best place to see Macaroni Penguins in Chile would be Isla Noir.
Magellanic Penguin
Magellanic Penguins are the most common Chile penguins, with more than 5,000 reports of these birds as per eBird data. These penguins of Chile breed throughout the southern half of the country, and they are common penguins in Chile and Argentina. This penguin in Chile has been reported as far north as Arica.
The northernmost breeding populations are present around Talcahuano, and they are increasingly common as one travels further south. Much like the similar Humboldt’s Penguin, Magellanic Penguins breed in burrows. Although the two species are similar, birders can identify these Chilean penguins by their two breast bands.
Away from breeding colonies, Magellanic Penguins are readily observed in the myriad backwaters and channels of southern Chile. They will be most common in their breeding seasons from September through February, but they may be seen from land in the nonbreeding season as they forage in the oceans.
Southern Rockhopper Penguin
Image attribution: “Rockhopper Penguin” by David Stanley is licensed under CC BY 2.0
Southern Rockhopper Penguins have only been observed slightly more than 200 times within Chile as per eBird data. Looking at this number would make one think that they are scarce in Chile, but the opposite is true. Indeed, Southern Rockhopper Penguins have populations within the hundreds of thousands in Chile, but their breeding colonies are usually rather inaccessible.
These Chilean penguins live in tight conditions in sizable colonies. Birds are not always friendly with one another due to the crowded breeding conditions, but most remain rather civil with one another.
There are only a few well-known Southern Rockhopper Penguin breeding colonies in Chile with Islotes Evangelistas and Isla Noir being the most notable. Isla Noir is by far the most accessible of the two colonies, and a survey in 2005 estimated that more than 150,000 of this Chile penguin species breeds here! The most northerly record of a Southern Rockhopper Penguin in Chile was at Isla Choros in Coquimbo.
Where To See Penguins In Chile
Chile is home to many fantastic locations for viewing penguins in the wild thanks to its extensive coastline. Here are some of the best places to see penguins in Chile:
- Isla Damas
- Parque Pingüino Rey
- Islote Pajaros Niños
- Isla Cachagua
Fortunately, there are many excellent places to view Chilean penguins, with these birds being accessible throughout most of the country. However, for those wondering where to see penguins in Chile if they want the best penguin viewing experiences, then traveling to Magallenes will be worth your while.
Although birders are unlikely to see Humboldt Penguins in Magallenes, the other four penguins in Chile are readily observed in breeding colonies around here. Ultimately, those visiting Chile should be sure to add a penguin viewing tour to their bucket list of things to do in this incredible country.