Snares Penguin

About the Snares Penguin

The Snares penguin, also known as the Snares crested penguin and the Snares Islands penguin, is a penguin from New Zealand. The species breeds on the Snares Islands, a group of islands off the southern coast of the South Island. It is a yellow-crested penguin, with a size of 50–70 cm (19.5–27.5 in) and a weight of 2.5–4 kg (5.5–8.8 lb). It has dark blue-black upper parts and white underparts. It has a bright yellow eyebrow-stripe which extends over the eye to form a drooping, bushy crest. It has bare pink skin at the base of its large red-brown bill.

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

ID tip

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Where the Snares Penguin lives

Recorded as a rare visitor in Argentina, Australia.

When to see the Snares Penguin

Peak activity in December · a summer visitor species across most of its range

Easily confused with

Erect-crested PenguinEudyptes sclateriThis is a small-to-medium-sized, yellow-crested, black-and-white penguin, at 50–70 cm (20–28 in) and weighing 2.5–6 kg (5.5–13.2 lb). Northern Rockhopper PenguinEudyptes moseleyiThe northern rockhopper penguin, also known as Moseley's rockhopper penguin, Moseley's penguin, or Tristan penguin, is a penguin species native to the southern Indian and Atlantic Oceans. Eastern Rockhopper PenguinEudyptes filholiThe eastern rockhopper penguin is a small, crested penguin with a black back and throat, a white belly, and pink feet.