Mooch of the Penguins: Juvenile Won't Stop Begging Parent for Food
March 6, 2017 - If you have kids or you were one, you might be able to relate to this penguin adult-chick relationship. The video shows a recently fledged Galápagos penguin chick, around 60 days old, begging what is likely one of its parents for food. Watch the video to find out what the deal is with this little "moocher."
Fun Fact: Out of the 18 known penguin species, only Galápagos and gentoo parents are known to care for fledglings.
Read more about these freeloading fledglings and why they hang around the nest.
This Galápagos penguin chick has already left the nest.
So why is it still begging one of its parents for food?
Some Galápagos penguin chicks stay close to home for a few weeks after fledging.
This may allow the chicks extra time to gain fishing skills before going off on their own.
This “mooching” behavior may only be tolerated by parents when fish are bountiful.
Galápagos penguin parents are one of only two penguin species known to care for fledglings.
