About the Little Penguin
The little penguin is the smallest species of penguin in the world, and originates from New Zealand and Australia. It is commonly known as the fairy penguin, little blue penguin, or blue penguin, owing to its slate-blue plumage and is also known by its Māori name kororā. It is a marine neritic species that dives for food throughout the day and returns to burrows on the shore at dusk. Eudyptula minor feathers are dense in melanosomes, which increase water resistance and give them their unique blue colour.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
ID tip
Like those of all penguins, the wings of Eudyptula species have developed into flippers used for swimming. Eudyptula species typically grow to between 30 and 33 cm (12 and 13 in) tall and on average weigh 1.5 kg (3.3 lb). The head and upper parts are blue in colour, with slate-grey ear coverts fading to white underneath, from the chin to the belly. Their flippers are blue in colour. The dark grey-black beak is 3–4 cm long, the irises pale silvery- or bluish-grey or hazel, and the feet pink above with black soles and webbing.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where the Little Penguin lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Chile.
When to see the Little Penguin
Peak activity in September · a variable species across most of its range
Easily confused with
Magellanic PenguinSpheniscus magellanicusMagellanic penguins are medium-sized penguins which grow to be 61–76 cm (24–30 in) tall and weigh between 2.7 and 6.5 kg (6.0 and 14.3 lb).
King PenguinAptenodytes patagonicusThe king penguin stands at 70 to 100 cm (28 to 39 in) tall and weighs from 9.3 to 18 kg (21 to 40 lb).
Humboldt PenguinSpheniscus humboldtiHumboldt penguins are medium-sized penguins, growing to 56–70 cm (22–28 in) long and a weight of 2.9 to 6 kg (6.4 to 13.2 lb).
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