Humboldt Penguins (Spheniscus humboldti) in the Northern Hemisphere

• Published in: The Wilson journal of ornithology Vol. 119; no. 2; pp. 284 - 288
• Main Authors: Van Buren, A. N., Dee Boersma, P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Fort Collins Wilson Ornithological Society 01-06-2007
• Subjects: Beaches; Behavior; Birds; Boats; Breeding; Coasts; Discovery and exploration; Fishing; Fishing nets; Fishing vessels; Introduced species; Marine; Natural history; Northern hemisphere; Ornithological research; Ornithology; Penguins; Productivity; Short Communications; Southern hemisphere; Spheniscus humboldti; Tuna; Zoos; Canada; INE, USA, Pacific Northwest; INE, USA, Alaska
• ISSN: 1559-4491; 1938-5447
• DOI: 10.1676/05-130.1

Penguins, Southern Hemisphere birds, were introduced to the Northern Hemisphere several times in the 1930s. None of the four species introduced became established but some individuals survived for at least a decade. Humboldt Penguins (Spheniscus humboldti) were observed in waters off the west coast of North America several times in the 1970s and 1980s and one was caught in a fishing net in Alaska in 2002. Penguins theoretically might be able to swim to suitable habitat in the Northern Hemisphere, but we argue the most likely explanation for their arrival in the Pacific Northwest was by fishing boat.