The Fiordland Crested Penguin (Eudyptes pachyrhynchus) is a penguin from New Zealand. It breeds along the Fiordland coast and its outlying islands as well as on Stewart Island/Rakiura.
Description:
They are medium-sized, yellow-crested, black-and-white penguins, growing to approximately 60 cm (24 in) long and weighing about 3.7 kg (8.2 lbs). It has dark, bluish-grey upperparts with a darker head and white underparts. It has a broad, yellow eyebrow stripe that extends over the eye and drops down the neck. Most birds have 3-6 whitish stripes on the face.
Penguin General Info … Penguin Species & Photo Gallery
Breeding:
This penguin nests in colonies in dense temperate forests.
Diet:
Fiordland Crested Penguins feed on krill, fish, octopus, and squid.
Status:
The current status of this penguin is vulnerable due to its small population. Current population estimates range between 2,500-3,000 pairs and is thought to have declined since the late 1980s by around 33%.
It is under threat from introduced predators including dogs, cats, stoats, and rats. The endemic Weka has been introduced to several islands where it preys on eggs and chicks.
