The Magellanic Penguin Chicks Are Growing Up

The penguin chicks are getting big, but here’s how you tell the adolescents from the adults:

Adults and juveniles have the typical black back and white breast and stomach of penguins in general.

Adult Magellanic Penguins have scattered black spots on the breast. They have a symmetrical white band around the mostly black face. The band originates at each eye, arches back on the sides of the black head, and comes together at the throat. They also have two bands crossing the front. One band is a wide black strip under the chin and another is in the shape of an upside down horseshoe on the stomach. Juveniles have only one band (Aquarium of the Pacific).