Birds · Sphenisciformes · Spheniscidae

Little Penguin

Eudyptula minor

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

The little penguin, also called the blue penguin, is the smallest penguin species and lives on the coasts of New Zealand and the Chatham Islands, as well as in southern Australia, Antarctica and Tasmania. It has also been seen on the Chilean island of Chañaral in 1996, at Santo Domingo beach, but it is unclear whether those birds had strayed. It has also been suggested that there may be colonies still to be discovered in the Chilean part of Patagonia. There are many subspecies, but a precise classification of them is still under discussion.

Weight

1.1 kg – 1.2 kg

Size

30 cm – 43 cm

Lifespan

20 years

Diet

Carnivore

Feeds mainly on other animals.

Activity

Nocturnal

Active mainly at night.

Social structure

Colony

Lives in large concentrations, often for breeding reasons.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

OceanIslandsCarnivore Nocturnal Colonial Bird Ocean Islands

2countries 15parks14same family

Fun facts

The penguin parade on Phillip Island, in Victoria, draws hundreds of visitors every evening to watch the penguins come out of the sea in single file towards their burrows: it is one of the most profitable wildlife attractions in Australia.
It comes ashore only at night, once it is completely dark, to avoid the gulls and raptors that patrol the beach by day.
In 2015 two Maremma sheepdogs were used to protect an Australian colony from foxes, a successful experiment that inspired a film.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (bird)
Habitat & environment: Coasts and shallow waters of southern Australia and New Zealand; it nests in burrows and coastal crevices
Sexual maturity: 23.9 months
Gestation / incubation: 39 days
Litter / clutch size: 2 eggs

Sources consulted: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eudyptula_minor