DISPLAYS OF THE JACKASS PENGUIN

Abstract

Summary Eggleton, P. & Siegfried, W. R. 1979. Displays of the Jackass Penguin. Ostrich 50:139-167. The paper describes the displays of the Jackass Penguin Spheniscus demersus. It also covers aspects of the species' comfort behaviour. Observations were made at several islands off the South African west coast from 1973 to 1976, although most were made on 130 individually-marked adults at Bird Island (Lambert's Bay) in 1975. The Jackass Penguin has an extensive repertoire of aggressive displays including Point, Gape, Alternate Stare, Sideways Stare, Peck and Beak Slapping. Other displays are Vibratory Head Shaking (VHS), Ecstatic Display, Mutual Ecstatic Display, several bowing displays and displays associated with copulation. The functions of the displays are discussed and comparison is made with displays in other penguins as documented in the literature. In general the displays of the Jackass Penguin resemble those of other penguins, excluding the genus Aptenodytes. There are, however, variations commensurate with the environment and habits of S. demersus.