What makes this noisy seabird so unique—and why should you care? The name most visitors hear first is the jackass penguin, yet scientists call it the African penguin (Spheniscus demersus). This flightless bird has flipper-like wings and a streamlined body built for life at sea.
The species lives only along the southern African coastline. Colonies dot offshore islands and a few mainland beaches—from Namibia to Algoa Bay.
Penguins live in noisy groups that protect nests and raise chicks. They swim fast—up to about 12 mph—and feed on small fish like sardines and anchovies. Their pink eye patches and salt glands help them cope with warm sun and salty water.
This introduction sets up the essentials: how form follows function, where african penguins live, and why rapid population declines make conservation urgent. Read on to learn how habitat, food, and human impact shape each bird’s daily life.
Meet the jackass penguin: identity, names, and what makes them unique
Known for a loud, donkey-like call, this bird is more than a noisy colony resident. The African penguin — also called the Cape penguin or black-footed penguin — has clear ID features that tell its story at a glance.
What to look for: an adult stands about 60–70 cm tall and weighs 2.2–3.5 kg. It has a black facial mask, black feet, and a single black band across the chest. Each body spot pattern is unique to the individual.
Vocal ID: the braying call gives the name and is often heard in colonies in South Africa.
Heat regulation: pink patches above the eyes flush with blood to shed heat when temperatures rise.
Swimming form: stiffened wings act as flippers, and a streamlined body reduces drag for fast underwater pursuit.
Camouflage: countershading—dark upperparts and white belly—helps avoid predators from above and below.
Scientific context: Spheniscus demersus is the only member of this group native to the Old World. Its combination of vocal behavior, thermal skin patches, and specialized wings defines the species’ coastal lifestyle.
Where African penguins live: coasts, islands, and colonies from South Africa to Namibia
A narrow marine corridor links colonies from Namibia to Algoa Bay, shaping where these birds find food and shelter. This corridor lies in temperate water with stable temperatures and reliable upwelling—conditions that concentrate small fish and make coastal foraging efficient.
Range at a glance: african penguins live on 24 offshore islands and a few mainland sites. Most colonies stay close to productive inshore fronts where fish are abundant.
Mainland hotspots and island safety
Two mainland colonies—Boulders Beach and Stony Point—offer rare, close viewing in south africa. These sites became viable as large land predators declined, though occasional leopard attacks still occur.
Most penguins live on islands to reduce predator pressure. Historically, deep guano layers provided cool burrows for eggs. After guano removal, many birds nest in sand, under rocks, or in conservation-supplied nest boxes.
Daily rhythm: ocean to shore
Birds leave at first light and spend time at sea hunting fish—usually within 20 km of shore—then return to the colony at dusk. This routine balances foraging needs with chick care and safety.
Habitat mix: coast, islands, kelp beds, and surf zones shape feeding and nesting.
Conservation note: intact nearshore water quality and prey abundance are essential for colony success.
Visitor tip: boardwalks at Boulders protect their feet and nests while enabling observation.
How they thrive: diet, diving, feathers, and staying cool on land
From sardines to squid, diet and diving shape daily life along the shore. Food centers on small pelagic fish—especially sardines and anchovies—plus squid and tiny crustaceans. Adults forage mostly within 20 km of colonies so they can return quickly to feed chicks.
Fish on the menu
What’s for food? Sardines and anchovies are prime energy sources. When those schools shift, squid and small crustaceans fill the gap.
Pursuit divers
These birds are pursuit divers. Flipper-like wings power bursts up to 12 mph. Typical dives reach about 25 m and last around 69 seconds—just over a minute.
Saltwater solutions
Salt glands above the eyes excrete brine so they can drink seawater. This adaptation keeps electrolytes balanced during long trips at sea.
Heat management and feathers
On land they cool by seeking shade, facing white bellies toward the sun, panting, and spreading flippers to catch air. Increased blood flow to pink eye patches helps dump heat.
Feathers: dense outer feathers and insulating down trap air for warmth and waterproofing.
Speed and stamina: repeated dives measured in minutes rely on efficient oxygen use and a streamlined body.
Group tactics: coordinated foraging can herd fish into tighter bait balls for easier capture.
Breeding and raising young: eggs, chicks, and life in a crèche
At the heart of every successful season are steady pairs, simple nests, and precise timing between food and chick growth. African penguin pairs are largely monogamous and may stay together for years, returning to the same colony and nesting site when conditions allow.
Nest sites and shared care
Females often shape burrows in guano where available. Where guano is missing, nesting shifts to sand scrapes, rock crevices, or artificial boxes.
Typical clutches contain two eggs. Both parents alternate incubation for about 38–42 days, balancing protection with trips to find food at sea.
Chick milestones and crèches
By roughly 14–21 days, many chicks can control their body temperature and join guarded groups—crèches—so adults can forage farther.
Fledging then spans about 60–130 days, depending on prey abundance and weather.
Molt, recovery, and timing
After breeding, adults undergo a three-week molt and stay on land. They cannot feed at sea then and may lose significant weight.
Successful breeding hinges on timing—lining up peak prey with the most demanding chick growth days supports higher survival for this species.
Pair fidelity: long-term bonds raise breeding consistency.
Nest flexibility: guano, rock, or boxes adapt to habitat change.
Crèche safety: guarded groups let parents optimize foraging trips.
Threats, predators, and conservation: the African penguin’s critically endangered status
Across coastal waters and nesting sites, multiple dangers now threaten the future of african penguins. Marine and terrestrial pressures overlap, creating high risk for this species.
At sea and on land
Primary marine predators include sharks and Cape fur seals. On land, kelp gulls, mongooses, caracals, genets, and domestic cats and dogs take eggs and chicks—these predators hit nests when cover is scarce.
Human impacts and fisheries
Historic egg harvests and guano removal undermined nesting success for decades. Modern fisheries reduce sardine and anchovy access, pushing birds farther offshore where food is poorer.
Oil, rescue, and recovery
Oil is an acute danger in coastal water. The 1994 MV Apollo Sea and the 2000 MV Treasure disasters oiled thousands. SANCCOB led large-scale rehabilitation—more than 91% were treated and released after Treasure.
Outlook and conservation action
By 2023 breeding pairs fell below 10,000 and the african penguin became critically endangered. In 2025, South Africa adopted larger no-fishing zones near key colonies to protect prey.
Conservation groups and the african foundation conservation network provide response training and coastal rescue expertise.
Rehabilitation centers, nest-box programs, and fishing buffers build resilience across years.
Zoos help too—the Maryland Zoo’s long-running colony supports assurance populations and field partnerships with SANCCOB.
What you can do next for African penguins
Every choice—from the seafood on your plate to the tours you join—affects the survival of this penguin species. Support rescue groups like SANCCOB and BirdLife South Africa, and pick ocean-friendly seafood using guides such as Seafood Watch.
Visit responsibly at Boulders Beach or Stony Point: stay on boardwalks, give space to adults, keep distance from chicks and eggs. Back accredited zoos that run Species Survival Plans and teach about feathers, body form, and molt.
Reduce plastic and petroleum use, advocate for no-fishing buffers, and teach others about crèche groups and shade needs. Learn more and act today—see ways to help the endangered African penguin to protect african penguins for years to come.
FAQ
What is a jackass penguin?
The jackass penguin—also called the African penguin or black-footed penguin—is a medium-sized seabird native to southwestern Africa. It has distinctive black-and-white plumage, webbed feet, and a loud, donkey-like bray that inspired its common name. These birds form colonies on coastal islands and mainland sites in South Africa and Namibia and feed mainly on small schooling fish.
Why is it called a “jackass” penguin?
The nickname comes from the bird’s braying vocalization, which resembles a donkey’s call. That loud call is used in social displays and territory defense within dense colonies—helpful for recognising mates and neighbours across noisy breeding grounds.
Where do African penguins live?
African penguins inhabit temperate coastal waters along southwestern Africa, from Namibia to South Africa. They nest on islands and a few mainland sites such as Boulders Beach and Stony Point near Cape Town. Colonies prefer rocky shores, guano burrows, or shallow scrapes that offer shelter from predators and harsh sun.
How much time do they spend at sea versus on land?
These birds spend most daylight hours at sea foraging for fish, returning to colonies to rest, breed, or tend chicks. Foraging trips can last from hours to several days depending on food availability. They typically come ashore at night or between foraging bouts to stay with the colony.
What do African penguins eat?
Their diet consists mainly of small, oily fish—sardines and anchovies are prime targets—plus sardine relatives and sometimes squid. They rely on local fish stocks, so changes in forage fish abundance directly affect breeding success and chick survival.
How deep and long can they dive when hunting?
African penguins are pursuit divers with streamlined bodies and flipper-like wings. They commonly dive to tens of meters and can stay underwater for up to a few minutes when chasing fast-moving schools, using agility and speed rather than extreme depth.
How do they cope with saltwater and dehydration?
These birds have specialized salt glands above the eyes that remove excess salt, allowing them to excrete concentrated saline and maintain blood chemistry. They also obtain moisture from prey and can drink seawater without harm thanks to these physiological adaptations.
How do they manage heat on hot days?
African penguins use several cooling strategies—exposing bare patches of pink skin near the eyes to increase blood flow and dissipate heat, seeking shade or water, and altering posture. Feather density and countershading help regulate temperature both in air and water.
What is their breeding system and nesting behavior?
They form mainly monogamous pairs during a breeding season. Nests are built in guano burrows, rock crevices, or shallow scrapes. Typical clutches contain two eggs, with both parents sharing incubation duties and later provisioning chicks with regurgitated fish.
How do chicks develop and when do they fledge?
Chicks are born covered in down and rely on parents for warmth and food. As they grow, they form crèches—groups of young cared for collectively—while parents forage. Nestlings develop thermoregulation over weeks, and fledging occurs when juveniles replace down with waterproof adult feathers, often several months after hatching.
What is the molt like for African penguins?
Molting is an annual, energy-intensive process during which birds replace all feathers and cannot enter the water to feed. They stay on land for several weeks, often losing weight as they fast and regrow dense, waterproof plumage essential for future foraging.
What predators and threats do they face at sea and on land?
At sea, sharks and Cape fur seals can take adults or juveniles. On land, gulls and small terrestrial predators may prey on eggs and chicks. Human-related threats—overfishing, habitat loss, historic guano removal, and oil spills—have driven steep population declines.
How have oil spills affected this species?
Major spills have caused mass mortality and long-term impacts to colonies. Notable rescue and rehabilitation efforts—such as responses coordinated by SANCCOB (the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds)—have saved thousands of oiled birds and shaped modern conservation responses.
What human activities have historically harmed African penguins?
For decades, egg collection and guano harvesting destroyed nesting habitat and reduced reproductive success. More recently, commercial fisheries competing for sardines and anchovies, coastal development, and pollution have reduced food availability and safe nesting sites.
What is their conservation status and current outlook?
The species is classified as critically endangered due to rapid declines in many colonies. Conservation actions—marine protected areas, fishery management, habitat restoration, and rehabilitation centres like SANCCOB—aim to stabilise populations, but recovery requires sustained, coordinated efforts.
How do zoos and aquariums help conservation?
Accredited zoos and aquariums run breeding programs, public education, and research. Facilities such as the Maryland Zoo and others support captive-breeding, genetic diversity studies, and outreach that raises awareness and funds for field conservation.
What can individuals do to help African penguins?
Support reputable conservation organisations, reduce seafood choices that harm forage fish stocks, avoid disturbing colonies when visiting coastal sites, and volunteer or donate to rehabilitation centres. Informed tourism—visiting sites that follow strict viewing guidelines—also helps protect colonies.
Share this post