Field guide · common
African Penguin
The donkey-brays of Boulders Beach — a black-footed penguin that breeds on South African shores and swims into cold Atlantic currents.
Endangered
Overview
The African penguin — also called the jackass penguin for its braying call — is the only penguin that breeds on the African continent. Black band across the chest, pink glands above the eyes, and a waddling commute from sea to burrow make colonies at Boulders Beach and Betty's Bay unforgettable.
African penguins hunt sardines and anchovies in cold Benguela Current upwelling, diving over 100 metres and staying at sea for days. They nest in burrows dug into guano or sand, pairs returning to the same colony year after year.
Habitat
Rocky coastlines and offshore islands of South Africa and Namibia hold African penguin colonies. They need sheltered bays for breeding and cold, fish-rich waters nearby — and are now largely dependent on protected areas as populations crash.
Countries found
Interesting facts
- 01
African penguins have a braying call that sounds like a donkey.
- 02
They have a black stripe and black spots on the chest — unique to each bird.
- 03
Populations have fallen by over 95% since the early 1900s.
Conservation status
African penguins are Endangered, devastated by overfishing, oil spills, and guano harvesting that destroyed nest sites. Sanccob rehabilitation centres and marine protected areas are critical to their survival.
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