Names

• English: African penguin.
• Latin/Scientific: Spheniscus demersus (Linnaeus, 1758).
• Afrikaans: Brilpikkewyn.
• Other Common Names: It is only recently that the name African penguin has become widely accepted. Previously African penguins were known as "Black-footed penguins", "Jackass penguins" or "Cape penguins".

Distribution and Status

• The African penguin is the only penguin species that breeds in Africa, and it is found nowhere else in the world. There are no generally recognised subspecies.

• African penguins are endemic to southern Africa where they breed at 29 localities between Hollamsbird Island, off central Namibia, to Bird Island in Algoa Bay, South Africa (Hockey et al., 2005). Breeding occurs on off-shore islands and at a few mainland sites (such as Bolders Beach near Cape Town S.A.). At present the largest breeding colony is on Dassen Island where there is an estimated population of 55,000 (Crawford et al., 2000).

• In the past the major threat to penguins was guano collection which reduced the quality of nesting material at the major colonies and numbers of African penguins declined from several million at the start of the last century to fewer than 200,000 at all breeding localities in 2000 (Hockey et al., 2000). Today, this is no longer a problem and the major threat is from shipping and oil spills (read about the impact of the Treasure oil spill here.) Other factors driving the decline may include depleted fish stocks, knock on effects of climate change, predation and human interference at nesting and breeding sites.

• The total breeding population in 2004 was estimated as 58,636 pairs and it is thought that there are fewer than 170,000 birds in total today. Currently, the population is believed to be declining slowly and as a result African penguins are listed as vulnerable to extinction in the 2006 IUCN Red List.
  

• Unlike many other birds, African penguins have an extended breeding season. In most colonies, birds at some stage of breeding will be present throughout the year. However, regional differences do occur and breeding activity reaches a peak earlier in Namibia (November and December) than in South Africa (March to May) (Williams, 1995).

• Although African penguins are generally monogamous and around 80-90% of pairs will stay together in consecutive seasons, it is believed that extra-pair copulations do occur. However, the rate at which these occur and whether they lead to extra-pair paternity has yet to be established for this species.

• African penguins breed colonially, either nesting in burrows they have excavated themselves or in depressions under boulders or bushes. Since the removal of the guano surface layer at most breeding sites surface nesting and nesting under bushes has become more frequent. Shelter is important to provide protection from the strong summer sun and from predators such as kelp gulls (Larus dominicanus) and sacred ibises (Threskiornis aethiopicus).

• Two eggs are usually laid, although it is not common for both of the chicks to survive. The incubation period is about 40 days, and the male and female participate equally in the incubation duties. The length of the incubation shift is dependant on the food availability at the time, but is typically about two and a half days.