Little penguin

Eudyptula minor

Size: 30–43 cm · 0.9–1.6 kg
Diet: Carnivore
Activity: Crepuscular
Sociality: Colony
Lifespan: 6–10 years

The little penguin is among the smallest penguins, living around Australasian coasts. Its bluish back and small size are distinctive, and birds return to land around dusk.

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Key facts

Little penguin (Eudyptula minor) is a carnivore animal classified as Bird · Sphenisciformes · Spheniscidae.
Primary habitats are coast · open ocean, with a range across Australasian · Pacific Ocean · Southern Ocean.
Activity is crepuscular, sociality is colony, and conservation status is LC (Least Concern).
The little penguin is among the smallest penguins, living around Australasian coasts.
It uses coastal waters and islands of the Australasian, Pacific, and Southern Ocean regions.
Typical lifespan: 6–10 years

Sources

wikidata.org

Range

Habitat range map

Native rangeOccasional / Transient

Map: Ecoregions 2017 © RESOLVE (CC BY 4.0) · Natural Earth (PD)

Details

Habitat

It uses coastal waters and islands of the Australasian, Pacific, and Southern Ocean regions. Nests are placed in dunes, rock crevices, vegetation, or artificial boxes.

Appearance

Length is 30-43 cm and weight 900-1600 g. The back is blue-grey, the belly white, and the wings are flipper-like for swimming; the body is compact and rounded.

Behavior

Activity around colonies is crepuscular, with birds feeding at sea by day and returning after dark. They move in groups on land and swim agilely underwater.

Feeding

A carnivore, it eats small fish, squid, and krill. Underwater it beats its flippers like wings to chase schooling prey.

Reproduction

Pairs breed in burrows or crevices, sharing incubation and feeding. Chicks receive regurgitated fish caught at sea.

Notes

It is listed as Least Concern. Coastal development, dogs, foxes, fisheries, and marine pollution can affect individual colonies.