South Africa Birds - African Jackass Penguin {Spheniscus demersus} Endemic to Southern Africa, listed as a vulnerable species

The African (Jackass) Penguin is a black and white patterned penguin. It is a distinctive bird with largely black upperparts and white underparts. The face is black, separated from the black top to the head by a broad white "C" shaped marking. There is a black band running across the breast, extending down the flanks. They have an eye ring and eyebrow of bare pink skin. The bill is blackish, with a pinkish-grey band near the tip. The legs and feet are black.

Name: Spheniscus demersus

Habitat:  Found on the southern and West Coasts of South Africa.

Distribution: Jackass Penguins are endemic to southern Africa

Size: 50 cm

Diet: Penguin feed on pelagic shoaling fish such as pilchards and travel out to sea in search of food. The flipper-like modified wings allow Jackass Penguins to "fly" rapidly through the water.

Note: Persecution, oil-spills and disturbance has led to a drastic decline in numbers over the last half century to the point where it is now listed as a vulnerable species.

Reproduction: The Jackass Penguin breeds mainly on islands off the west coast of South Africa and Namibia but a thriving colony can be seen at Boulders Beach near Simonstown.