African Penguin

Afrikaans name: Brilpikkewyn

Photo © Steven Herbert

Spheniscus demersus

No, the above photo's were not taken in an enclosure in a zoo - this is where these penguins choose to live and breed at Boulders Beach with the sea a stones throw away.

The African Penguin has been known as the Jackass Penguin for years. This name arises from its call which sounds somewhat like a donkey. It is also known as the Black-footed Penguin.

The African Penguin is found along the coast of South Africa and Namibia. It occurs on a number of different islands off the coast but there are colonies on the mainland at Boulders Beach and Betty's Bay.

The main food of this cute penguin is fish, squid and some crustaceans. These are caught at sea and it may swim up to 20 km from the shore to feed.

Pairs stick together and return to the same area to breed each year. Two eggs are normally laid. These may be laid under a bush or behind rocks.

Roberts Birds Names by Edition

Edition	Roberts nr	Scientific name
1st	2	Spheniscus demersus
2nd	2	Spheniscus demersus
3rd	2	Spheniscus demersus
4th	2	Spheniscus demersus
5th	3	Spheniscus demersus
6th	3	Spheniscus demersus
7th	476	Spheniscus demersus

Edition	Roberts nr	English name
1st	2	Jackass Penguin
2nd	2	Jackass Penguin
3rd	2	Jackass Penguin
4th	2	Jackass Penguin
5th	3	Jackass Penguin
6th	3	Jackass Penguin
7th	476	African Penguin

Edition	Roberts nr	Afrikaans name
1st	2	Pikkewyn
2nd	2	Pikkewyn
3rd	2	Pikkewyn
4th	2	Pikkewyn
5th	3	Brilpikkewyn
6th	3	Brilpikkewyn
7th	476	Brilpikkewyn

References and further reading

Wildlife of the Cape Peninsula - Author: Duncan Butchart - Published: 2001 - Page: 30

Two Oceans - Author: Branch, Griffiths, Branch and Beckley - Published: 2010 - Page: 356

Wildlife of Southern Africa - Author: Martin Withers and David Hosking - Published: 2011 - Page: 20

The Coastal Guide of South Africa - Author: Jacana Media - Published: 2007 - Page: 96

The Birds of South Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Dr. Austin Roberts - Published: 1949 - Page: 2

Southern African Wildlife - Author: Readers Digest - Published: 1989 - Page: 125

Southern Africas Threatened Wildlife - Author: John Ledger - Published: 1990 - Page: 44

The Birds of South Africa - Author: Hazel Stokes - Published: 1979 - Page: 1

Southern African Bird Names Explained - Author: Charles Clinning - Published: 1989 - Page: 131

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 4th Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 2011 - Page: 22

Seabirds - Author: Peter Harrison - Published: 1983 - Page: 206

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 1993 - Page: 32

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 6th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1993 - Page: 3

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 5th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1985 - Page: 3

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 3rd Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1975 - Page: 2

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 4th Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1981 - Page: 2

Roberts Bird Guide - Author: Hugh Chittenden - Published: 2007 - Page: 188

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 2nd edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1957 - Page: 2

Rare Birds of the World - Author: Guy Mountford & Norman Arlott - Published: 1988 - Page: 106

Questions and Answers - Endangered Wildlife of Southern Africa - Author: John Comrie-Greig - Published: 1992 - Page: 24

Questions and Answers - Birds of Southern Africa - Author: Deirdre Richards - Published: 1990 - Page: 4

Ocean Birds - Author: Lars Lofgren - Published: 1984 - Page: 55

Newmans Birds of Southern Africa - 7th Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 2000 - Page: 28

Ian Sinclairs Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair - Published: 1988 - Page: 32

Nature in the Balance - Author: Rob Marsh - Published: 1991 - Page: 35

Newmans Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 1984 - Page: 28

Getaway - Vol 29 No 07 - Author: - Published: 2017 - Page: 58

Getaway - Vol 31 No 07 - Author: - Published: 2019 - Page: 22

Everyones Guide to South African Birds - Author: John Sinclair and John Mendelsohn - Published: 1987 - Page: 86

Birds of the Transkei - Author: C.D. Quickelberge - Published: 1989 - Page: 24

Collins Illustrated Checklist - Birds of Southern Africa - 1st edition - Author: Ber van Perlo - Published: 1999 - Page: 6

Country Life - Issue 245 - Author: - Published: 2016 - Page: 56

Birds of the South Western Cape - Author: Joy Frandsen - Published: 0 - Page: 1

Bird Atlas of Natal - Author: Digby Cyrus and Nigel Robson - Published: 1980 - Page: 29

A First Guide to South African Birds - 7th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1975 - Page: 200

A First Guide to South African Birds - 6th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1959 - Page: 200

A Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: O.P.M. Prozesky - Published: 1983 - Page: 21

BirdLife South Africa

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List of South African Birds