Do penguins live in South America?
Yes, several penguin species live in South America. The Magellanic penguin breeds along the coasts of Argentina and Chile, with the largest colony at Punta Tombo in Argentina containing over 200,000 breeding pairs. The Humboldt penguin lives along the Pacific coast of Peru and Chile. Gentoo, chinstrap, and macaroni penguins also breed on islands near the southern tip of the continent and on the Antarctic Peninsula. South America is one of the most penguin-diverse continents, hosting both temperate and sub-Antarctic species.
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Where this answer comes from
Reference bodies behind our habitat answers. Links last checked August 5, 2026.
- BirdLife Data Zone - Species accounts, distribution, and population summaries.
- British Antarctic Survey - Antarctic penguin ecology, diving, and sea-ice context.
- Australian Antarctic Division - Antarctic species profiles, breeding, and environmental context.
- Galapagos Conservancy - Equatorial penguin range, breeding, and El Nino context.