What Are Humboldt Penguins? Everything to Know About Oregon Zoo’s New Chicks After Hatching
Only about 12,000 breeding pairs of Humboldt penguins remain in the wild. So when two tiny chicks — small enough to fit in a person’s hand — hatched at the Oregon Zoo in March, the arrivals meant more than a cute photo opportunity.
The chicks are the 194th and 195th Humboldt penguins born at the zoo since its breeding program began in the 1980s.
“We’ve been keeping an eye on these eggs since they were laid earlier this winter,” said Nicole LaGreco, who oversees the penguin area at the zoo. “Both sets of parents nested wonderfully, and the chicks hatched right on schedule.”
How the Humboldt Penguin Chicks Hatched
The first chick began “pipping” — when a chick’s beak breaks through the membrane of its shell — on Monday, March 9, and hatched early the next day. The second chick started to pip on March 17 and hatched on March 19.
Humboldt penguins usually hatch around 40 days after their eggs are laid, and it typically takes two to three days from pipping to fully emerge.
Even though they were born about a week apart, the chicks won’t meet anytime soon. Penguin chicks stay in their nests with their parents for about three months, according to LaGreco.
“Once the chicks are big enough to venture out of their nests, we expect them to spend a lot of time together,” LaGreco said. “We’re excited for zoo guests to watch them interact — and each chick has a built-in swimming buddy.”
What Makes Humboldt Penguins Different From Other Types
Humboldt penguins live along the coasts of Peru and Chile and are named after the cold Humboldt Current that flows along South America’s western shoreline. They are one of 17 penguin species, all of which live in the Southern Hemisphere.
Adults stand about 15 to 18 inches tall and weigh around 9 pounds. Their feathers have two layers: an outer layer that repels water and wind and an inner layer that keeps them warm. They also spread oil from a gland to improve insulation and reduce drag while swimming.
They are strong swimmers, reaching speeds of up to 30 mph and usually diving around 100 feet deep. They sometimes go beyond 200 feet when hunting, and special clear eyelids protect their eyes underwater. Penguins that are not breeding can stay in the water for more than 150 hours at a time.
Their diet includes fish and squid. They also eat crabs, krill and other sea life. Because they consume so much saltwater, they have special glands above their eyes that filter out salt — which they expel through their bills by sneezing.
Humboldt penguins typically mate for life and recognize each other through unique calls. They build nests in sand or cliffs covered with seabird guano. Females lay one to three eggs, and both parents take turns incubating them for about six weeks.
The new chicks are being fed regurgitated “fish smoothie” by their parents. By summer, they will be nearly as tall as the adults but will still look different — young Humboldt penguins have grayish-brown feathers and won’t develop their signature black-and-white coloring for a few years.
Why Humboldt Penguins Are Considered Vulnerable
The International Union for Conservation of Nature considers Humboldt penguins “vulnerable,” and they are protected under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. They face threats including overfishing, getting caught in fishing nets and the removal of guano they use for nesting.
The Oregon Zoo houses one of the largest Humboldt penguin populations in the United States and participates in coordinated breeding programs run by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, which aim to maintain healthy, genetically diverse populations.
When the chicks are old enough — young penguins usually begin to swim at around 12 weeks — they will start exploring the zoo’s Penguinarium, designed to resemble the rocky coasts of Chile and Peru. Until then, they remain in their nest boxes with their parents.
One way to support Humboldt penguins is by choosing sustainably sourced seafood. The Seafood Watch app can help consumers make choices that protect the fish populations these penguins rely on.
This article was created by content specialists using various tools, including AI.
