Which endangered penguin is the only penguin found north of the equator?

The Galápagos penguin is the only penguin found north of the equator.

It is endemic to Ecuador’s Galápagos Islands, where most birds live on Fernandina and Isabela. The northern tip of Isabela crosses the equator, placing part of the species’ range in the Northern Hemisphere. Penguins otherwise occur almost entirely south of the equator.

This tropical penguin survives because cold, nutrient-rich waters from the Humboldt and Cromwell Currents reach the archipelago. Those currents support abundant fish and help offset the islands’ warm climate. The species also has behavioral adaptations for cooling, including sheltering from direct sun and panting.

A common mix-up is confusing it with the Humboldt penguin, which also benefits from the Humboldt Current but lives along the Pacific coasts of Peru and Chile. Galápagos penguins are endangered, and El Niño events can sharply reduce food availability and breeding success.