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16 August 2025

Iconic wildlife not native to the US
Penguins

USA not so much

Three king penguins standing together on rocky ground with snow-capped mountains and glaciers behind them

This series of galleries - each with a map - is just here as a reminder for anyone who might need it 🤷😏

Penguins are nice. We like penguins. Penguins are important.

Penguins are not native to the USA.

Countries with wild penguins

A map showing the estimated worldwide penguin population in 2025

Landscape gallery

King penguin and a fur seal pup facing each other on dark volcanic sand, the seal looking up at the penguin

Three chinstrap penguins walking on snow, the nearest one facing the camera with flippers outstretched, a photographer in a yellow jacket visible behind

Two African penguins standing close together on a rock as if in conversation, a third penguin sitting behind them

Vast colony of king penguins stretching to the horizon under an overcast sky, one penguin raising its head above the crowd

King penguin silhouetted against a dramatic sunset with snow-capped mountains, standing on dark ground with fur seals resting nearby

Three king penguins standing together on a hillside overlooking a glacier, dark sand beach and more penguins visible far below

Penguin diving underwater viewed from below, flippers spread wide and bubbles trailing behind in deep teal water

Adult king penguins standing among a crowd of fluffy brown chicks on muddy ground as snow falls

Group of emperor penguins huddled together on ice with two small grey chicks sheltering at their feet

Close-up of two king penguins, the right one with beak wide open showing its pink mouth, water droplets glistening on their heads

Two gentoo penguins porpoising through ocean waves, one leaping clear of the water mid-dive

Group of African penguins walking towards the camera on sandy ground with ocean and mountains behind under a clear blue sky

Enormous colony of king penguin chicks in brown down stretching across a valley between snow-covered mountains at golden hour

Penguin swimming just below the water surface, shot from underwater showing its streamlined body and rippled reflection above

Emperor penguins scattered across sea ice with towering icebergs in the background under a pale blue Antarctic sky

African penguins resting on large smooth granite boulders by the sea, some standing, others lying down

Close-up of a king penguin from below, head tilted back with pink mouth open in a call, against a blue-purple rocky backdrop

Two king penguins stretching their necks skyward in a trumpeting display, surrounded by other penguins on green grassland

Boulders Beach with African penguins on white sand, turquoise water, large granite boulders, houses and mountains in the background under stormy clouds

Dense colony of king penguins packed together on a plain with a single brown chick among the adults, green hillside and cliffs behind

King penguin swimming upside down near the sandy bottom, flippers outstretched with bubbles streaming from its feathers

African penguins on a white sand beach with turquoise surf and large rocks, some emerging from the waves, others resting on shore

Colony of penguins huddled on an ice floe surrounded by broken sea ice, seen from a distance

Four African penguins walking in a line across white sand, casting long shadows, seen from above

Portrait gallery

Group of king penguins gathered on a rocky ledge above the sea, one diving headfirst into the water, brown mountains rising behind

Two king penguins standing side by side pointing their beaks skyward in a trumpeting display, turquoise ocean behind them

King penguin adult standing among hundreds of fluffy brown chicks on a plain, dramatic orange clouds swirling above snow-capped mountains at sunset

Penguin diving head-first through deep blue water, flippers tucked, with rocky underwater formations visible behind

Two African penguins standing on a smooth granite boulder at dusk, a full moon glowing between them in a pink and lavender sky

Rockhopper penguin facing the camera on mossy rocks, spiky yellow crest feathers fanning out above its red eyes

Dense crowd of king penguins filling the entire frame, vivid orange ear patches contrasting with grey backs and white chests

Gentoo penguin calling with beak wide open and one flipper raised, standing beside a moulting juvenile on stony ground

Three African penguins standing at the edge of a pool, the nearest one calling with beak open, their reflections visible in the still water

Two African penguins walking side by side along a sandy beach towards boulders and gentle surf, seen from behind in warm golden light

African penguin wading through shallow surf with another penguin splashing in the waves behind, granite boulders blurred in the background

Long column of Adelie penguins stretching along a snowy Antarctic shoreline, icebergs and mountains visible across calm blue water

Detailed penguin population estimates

Where	Est. pop.	Notes
Antarctica	24-30 million	Continent: Home to vast colonies of Adélie (~5M) and Emperor (~600K) penguins. Wider region: The sub-Antarctic islands host the world’s most numerous species, the Macaroni penguin, with an estimated population of over 12 million breeding pairs. South Georgia (British) is a particular hotspot for both King and Macaroni penguins.
Argentina	2 million	Home to the largest Magellanic penguin colony in the world at Punta Tombo, where hundreds of thousands arrive each year to breed. The total population along Argentina’s coast is estimated at around 900,000 breeding pairs.
Chile	1.3-1.5 million	Hosts significant colonies of Magellanic and Rockhopper penguins on its southern islands, and is a key habitat for the vulnerable Humboldt penguin along its northern coast.
Falkland Islands	1 million	A British Overseas Territory, it hosts five species of penguin. It is home to the world’s largest colony of Gentoo penguins and is a globally significant breeding site for Southern Rockhopper, Magellanic and King penguins.
New Zealand	500,000	A centre of penguin diversity, home to unique native species like the Yellow-eyed penguin (Hoiho), the Fiordland penguin (Tawaki), and the Snares penguin. The Little Penguin (Kororā) is also found here.
Australia	300,000	Home to the Little Penguin (also called the Fairy Penguin), the world’s smallest penguin species. The famous “Penguin Parade” on Phillip Island, Victoria, is a major tourist attraction where visitors can watch them return ashore at sunset.
South Africa	17,500	The African penguin is facing a severe crisis. As of July 2024, the species is critically endangered, with only about 8,750 breeding pairs remaining in South Africa due to food scarcity and habitat loss.
Peru	12,000	The main habitat for the Humboldt penguin, a species vulnerable to extinction due to over-fishing and climate change affecting the cold Humboldt Current it relies on.
Namibia	2,400	Like South Africa, Namibia’s African penguin population has plummeted. The latest data shows only around 1,200 breeding pairs remain, making conservation efforts here critical.
Ecuador	1,800	Home to the remarkable Galápagos penguin, the only penguin species found north of the equator. It is endangered and relies on the unique, cool currents of the Galápagos Islands to survive.
Brazil	Small/transient	Brazil doesn’t have native breeding colonies, but thousands of Magellanic penguins migrate north to its warmer coastal waters during the winter months to feed.
Uruguay	Small/transient	Similar to Brazil, Uruguay is a winter feeding ground for migrating Magellanic penguins, but it does not host permanent breeding sites.
Angola	Small/transient	While not a breeding site, southern Angola is a regular destination for juvenile African penguins on their post-fledging migration.

Sources

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

BirdLife International Data Zone

British Antarctic Survey: Penguins

A Comprehensive Review of the Population and Conservation Status of the Magellanic Penguin (Waterbirds, 2019)

Big thanks to all the photographers 🕺💃

Tags:nature·galleries