Magellanic penguins, Volunteer Point, Falkland Islands Magellanic penguins, Volunteer Point, Falkland Islands
Magellanic penguins, Volunteer Point, Falkland Islands
Magellanic penguins, Volunteer Point, Falkland Islands (© imageBROKER/Matthias Graben/Getty Images)
Cute, clumsy and completely captivating, penguins always steal the show. Among the many remarkable species of penguins are the Magellanic penguins, featured in today's image. A species native to South America's coastal regions, these birds breed along Patagonia's shores in Argentina, Chile and the Falkland Islands. Named after Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan, these medium-sized penguins were first documented in 1520. They can grow up to 76 centimetres tall and weigh around 6 kilograms. Skilled hunters, they thrive on a diet of small fish, squid and krill, efficiently filtering seawater with their specialised salt-excreting glands. With the abundant marine life along South America's Atlantic coast, they have a reliable food source. While these flightless creatures may not soar in the skies, they certainly capture hearts.