Galápagos penguin

How it lives

It is the only penguin that lives and breeds mostly north of the equator. It nests in lava caves and rock crevices, lays one or two eggs, and pairs are monogamous. Incubation is about 35 to 42 days depending on the source, and chicks fledge at around 60 days. It can breed more than once a year when food is plentiful. Wild lifespan can reach 15 to 20 years, but many birds die younger.

Where it goes

Mostly stays close to its colonies. It feeds at sea in cool, food-rich water during the day and comes ashore to rest and nest. About 90% of birds live on Fernandina and the west coast of Isabela, with small numbers on other islands such as Floreana, Santiago and Bartolomé.

We only draw a journey on the map when scientists have tracked it or clearly documented it. For this animal we have not found one yet.

Populations

Endangered on the IUCN Red List (2020 assessment). Counts swing with ocean conditions. The Galápagos National Park counted 1,451 in 2019 and 1,940 in 2020, the highest since 2006, helped by La Niña and fewer visitors. A 2024 census by the park, the Charles Darwin Foundation and partners counted 413 penguins in the main colonies, with 96% adults and only 1% juveniles, which suggests poor breeding, probably from low food. The 1982 to 1983 El Niño cut the population by about 77%. Counts depend on survey coverage, so numbers are not directly comparable between years.