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The Lieran banded penguin (Spheniscus lierensis) is a species of banded penguin of the Sphenisciformes order in the Austrodyptornithes clade that is native throughout much of the coasts of Novolaurasia on Liera. The Lieran banded penguin is directly descended from the extinct Spheniscus megaramphus of the Late Miocene South America (in what is now Peru) on Earth that were harvested to Liera, and had a widespread success on the northern continent.
At about three feet (0.9 meters) in height, the Lieran banded penguin is significantly larger and more robust than any other living banded penguin of Earth or Liera. The sex of the Lieran banded penguin cannot be recognised via differences in plumage, as they are monomorphic. The male is heavier and larger than the females. The beak of the Lieran banded penguin is also proportionally much larger compared to other banded penguins; the beak of the Lieran banded penguin exceeds the length of its cranium, whereas the earthly Humboldt penguin's beak and cranium are roughly equal in length. Lieran banded penguins have a black head with a white border that runs from behind the eye, around the black ear-coverts and chin, and joins at the throat. They have faded blackish-grey upperparts and whitish underparts, with a faded dark gray breast-band that extends down the flanks to the thigh. They have a fleshy-pink base to the bill. Juveniles have dark heads and no breast-band. They have spines on their tongue which they use to hold their prey.
The Lieran banded penguin feeds predominantly on pelagic schooling fish, cephalopods, and crustaceans. The consumption of non-venomous jellyfish and, occasionally, smaller seabirds vary between populations. There are seasonal differences in the Lieran banded penguin's diet that reflect the changes in availability of marine fish and invertebrate species across seasons. The Lieran banded penguin is a visual hunter. Lieran banded penguins leave their coastlines for foraging after sunrise and different populations have different preferred foraging distances from the colony. Their foraging rhythm depends on the light intensity. They spend more time foraging during overnight trips. Fish and invertebrates are mostly seized from below through short, shallow dives. The maximum depth reached is 62 meters (203 feet). Failed breeders take longer foraging trips with longer and deeper dives. They also dive less often than breeding Lieran banded penguins.
During courtship, the Lieran banded penguins bow their heads to each other and exchange mutual glances with each eye, alternatively. In the ecstatic display to attract a partner, the Lieran banded penguin extends its head vertically, collapses its chest, flaps its wings and emits a loud call resembling the braying of an earthly donkey. The mutual displaying consist of the pair standing side by side and repeating the actions of the ecstatic display. The Lieran banded penguin nests in loose colonies, with most pairs laying two eggs of the same size 4 days apart that require 41 days of incubation. Their breeding schedule is adjusted depending on the abundance of food. They breed immediately after moulting, when food is abundant and solar radiation is reduced.
The Lieran banded penguin lay eggs from December to March, but also with peaks in April and August, due to individuals having a second clutch. Half of the females successfully have two clutches per year and most were double broods. If pairs lose their eggs during the first breeding season, they lay a new clutch within 1–4 months. The incubation shifts last, on average, 2.5 days, before one parent takes over and allows the other to forage. There are no differences in the contribution to provisioning from the male and female parents. Chicks hatch generally 2 days apart. Chicks are semi-altricial and nidicolous and guarded by one parent while the other forages. Chicks are fed only once every day. Chicks are left unattended at the nest site after a certain age and both parents forage simultaneously.
The Lieran banded penguin is listed on CITES Appendix I, which means that all international commercial trade in Lieran banded penguins or their body parts is prohibited. It is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List since 1970, as the Lieran banded penguin is thought to have declined as much as 30-35%, as a result of habitat loss and persecution, being hunted after being blamed for hunting and killing domestic poultry such as domestic whistling ducks. The Lieran banded penguin is protected by the conservation laws and there are efforts to minimize persecution and habitat loss. Captive breeding programs may be beneficial for the species' survival.