In the Falklands this is the 'Jackass' Penguin', named for its braying donkey-like call. They can be heard at dawn and calm evenings as they stand by their burrow entrances.

Magellanic penguins are unmistakable, easily recognised by their black and white bands on their faces and necks, and are fairly large, length 71 cm (28 inches). They are not as tame as other penguins and likely retreat to their burrows if approached, they will however, vigourously defend their nests. They nest in burrow colonies excavated in tussac peat, where there has been dense tussac grass or where tussac still survives. Burrows are up to 2m deep with a raised nest chamber at the end.

Diet is varied, small fish, small squid and some lobster krill taken by pursuit-diving.

It is estimated that the Falkland Islands host almost one third of the world's population of Magellanic penguins. It breeds on the coast of Chile from 37°S to the Magellanic islands and up the coast of Argentina to around 41°S.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists Magellanic penguins as 'Near Threatened'.

Sources include: Falkland Islands State of the Environment Report 2008 Otley H, Munro G, Clausen A, Ingham B. A Field Guide to the Wildlife of The Falkland Islands and South Georgia - Ian J Strange, Guide to Birds of the Falkland Islands- Robin W. Woods.

Photographic credits: Jeremy Richards/Shutterstock.com, Ali Marsh, Robert Maddocks

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