WELL WADDLE YOU KNOW: Magellanic Penguins Build Nests To Prepare For Annual Mating Season

The adorable video shows the moment Magellanic penguins prepare for the annual mating season by building nests between the cracks of the rocky outcrops in their enclosure.

Resident penguins at Shedd Aquarium in the city of Chicago, Illinois State, USA, overjoyed visitors by giving them a glimpse of how they get ready for their yearly nesting season.

Delightful footage - shared by aquarium officials on Tuesday, 11th April - shows an individual carrying straw into its beak before it climbs up the rocky structure and reaches its mate.

Aquarium officials said in a statement obtained by Newsflash: "Ever wonder what it's like in the penguin habitat during nesting season? Let's pop in for a peek!"

They continued: "As part of the birds' care, the daily light cycle in their habitat has been altered to signal the start of the weeks-long season, and nest-building materials, including rocks, pieces of hose and lavender, to mimic options available in their native habitats, have been provided.

"Both species of penguins residing at Shedd – rockhopper and Magellanic – will have ample opportunities to participate in the nest building and pairing processes.

"To attract a female mate or reinforce an existing bond, male penguins will typically build their own nests, although female penguins, once paired, also help with the construction process.

"Rockhoppers, in particular, carefully select and carry rocks one by one in their beak to build their nests.

"This does not mean the males are above stealing materials from other males' nests – sometimes, they will take stones from other nests to adorn their own."