Megadyptes antipodes
An endangered species, the yellow-eyed penguin is native to New Zealand. They likely did not colonize New Zealand until the 1500s after another, larger penguin species was hunted to extinction and many of their natural predators including sea lions and seals were also hunted extensively. Its Maori name is Hoiho, which means noise maker, due to its shrill call.
What do yellow-eyed penguins look like? These penguins are grey-blue with a white breast and belly. They have yellow features on their head and yellow eyes. They are one of the taller penguin species, growing up to 2.5 feet tall.
Do they have yellow eyes? Yes, they have pale yellow eyes and they also have a band of bright yellow extending around the eyes and back around their head.
Where can you find yellow-eyed penguins? Along the Southeast Coast of the South Island of New Zealand, Auckland and Campbell Islands, Stewart Island.
What do they eat? They typically don’t stray far from shore, feeding on cod, squid and other fish located near the sea bed. They are piscavorous, meaning they eat fish.
What are baby yellow-eyed penguins called? Chicks
What does a yellow-eyed penguin family look like? In mid-August, the penguins pair up (most of the time the parents stay together from one year to the next) and select nest sites, which are located in secluded sites within coastal forests. Two eggs are usually laid, and they hatch in November. The young have dark brown features. One parent will go out to the ocean for food while the other stays behind, returning with regurgitated seafood for the chicks. In February, the chicks molt and go out to sea, with only 20% making it to maturity. They fledge in March and head off on their own. Adults molt once a year in roughly April to May. During that time – when their old feathers are replaced with new – they cannot go out to sea to fish and lose nearly half their body weight.
Are they nocturnal? No, they are mostly diurnal, hunting during the day at sea and then coming ashore near sunset to return to the nest, although they have been known to do shorter nighttime trips out to sea.
How long do they live? About 20 years
Do they migrate? No, adults stay near their breeding colonies. Young do head north a bit but don’t leave New Zealand area.
Are they endangered? They are endangered – listed by IUCN – due to habitat destruction, illnesses and the fact that the population is thought to be on the decline. Total population is estimated to be between about 2,600 to 3,000 adult birds.
Did you know? Yellow-eyed penguins aren’t born with yellow eyes. Instead, their eyes are grey, and they don’t have the yellow band on their head either. What turns their eyes yellow is their sea life diet, which is high in carotene, the same substance that gives carrots and tomatoes their color.
Where can I find out more about yellow-eyed penguins? Learn more about conservation efforts to protect these penguins by going to the site of the Yellow-Eyed Penguin Trust.
Sightings
Otago Peninsula, Dunedin, New Zealand
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