BREEDING
Rearing Chicks
Typical of all penguin species, Magellanic penguins are habitually monogamous—meaning a conspecific pair, consisting of a male and female, bond to one another for rearing purposes (Gandini, 2014).
A clutch of two eggs is yielded per breeding season, but the survival rate of the second hatchling is rarely above 50% (Stokes, 2014).
Depending on survival likelihood, the parents will feed the more sizable chick (Stokes, 2014). Unique of bird nesting behaviors, the male Magellanic penguin excavates dirt employing his clawed feet and flippers to establish a proper nesting site (Stokes, 2014).
The nesting site is known as a “burrow,” and commonly may be hidden by foliage and surrounding brush to fortify the potential offspring from predators (Stokes, 2014).
Exodus Travels Photographer
Mating Displays
Photographer Nick Rothman
To attract a mate, males will undergo a series of behavioral rituals to entice an unpaired female (Rey, 2012). Males perform mating calls which are similar to that of donkeys—described as “braying” (Rey, 2012).
Once loud vocalizations grab the attention of a female, he will encircle her and rapidly pat her utilizing his flippers (de Mendonça Santos, 2019). After the drumming, the two may be paired for seasonal breeding (de Mendonça Santos, 2019). Annual copulation initiates in the late spring months in South America—September (de Mendonça Santos, 2019).
Chicks are also born in spring months and develop quickly as autumn sets in—during January and February (Rey, 2012). For three months, the chicks are fed by the parents (Rey, 2012).
Obtaining and Keeping a Mate
Intraspecific competition commences among the males in order to acquire a female mate (de Mendonça Santos, 2019). Females often respond more positively to the larger male for better nest protection (Clements, 2015); however, her choice is also dependent on whether she already experienced parturition (de Mendonça Santos, 2019).
Post egg laying, a female may not always choose the larger male—she will choose the biological parent to her offspring (Clements, 2015). Using their sense of smell and vocalizations, penguins are able to distinguish their mate from unknown individuals (de Mendonça Santos, 2019).
Though known for their loyalty—if the paternal performance is unsatisfactory, the female will thereafter search for a new mate as breeding season ends (de Mendonça Santos, 2019).
