Yellow-Eyed Penguin

Animals Unique | Yellow-Eyed Penguin | The yellow-eyed penguin is one of the few penguin species found north of the Antarctic Ocean, and as it's name Suggests, this species of penguin is easily idenitfied by it's yellow colored eyes and bright yellow band That runs from it's eyes round the back of the yellow-eyed penguin's head.

The yellow-eyed penguin is found off the coast of the south island of New Zealand where this species gathers in Brussels along the beaches and boulder fields. The yellow-eyed penguin is also found on a few of the islands of the main island Including Stewart, Auckland and Campbell Islands the.

The yellow-eyed penguin Generally searches for food up 10 miles offshore, and travels (on average) around 15 miles away from the Colonies nesting site. The yellow-eyed penguin leaves the colony at dawn and returns the same evening during chick rearing, although 2A3 may spend days at sea at other times.

The yellow-eyed penguin is one of the larger species of penguin with adult individuals reaching 75cm in height, with the lazy Generally being slightly larger than the female yellow-eyed penguins. The yellow-eyed penguin was thought to have been closely related to the tiny little penguin found in a similar area, although recent research Suggests That the two are actually fairly different genetically.

The yellow-eyed penguin is a Carnivorous animal, that like all other penguin species, survives on a diet comprised That is only of marine animals. Krill and small crustaceans make up the bulk of the yellow-eyed penguin's diet along with larger organisms Including Various species of squid and fish.

The yellow-eyed penguin is usually found nesting in the forests and scrub That the New Zealand coast line and although undisturbed Historically, the yellow-eyed penguin now has a number of land-dwelling predators Including cats, dogs and foxes along with rats and weasels That Their hunt eggs.

On average, the yellow-eyed penguin breeds once a year, forming pairs That usually REMAIN faithful to one another. The female yellow-eyed penguin lays two eggs in her nest in the forest the which are incubated by both parents for up to a couple of months, when only one of the eggs will usually hatch. The yellow-eyed penguin chicks are fed and kept warm by Their parents and REMAIN with them until the chicks are nearly a year old.

Today, the yellow-eyed penguin listed as an endangered wild animal with an estimated population of less than 4.000 individuals. It is now the rarest penguin in the world due to deforestation and the introduction of Mammalian predators.

Yellow-Eyed Penguin Facts
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Sphenisciformes
Family: Spheniscidae
Genus: Megadyptes
Scientific Name: Megadyptes Antipodes
Type: Bird
Diet: Carnivore
Size (H): 60cm - 75cm (24in - 30in)
Weight: 5kg - 8kg (11lbs - 18lbs)
Life Span: 10-20 years
Lifestyle: Colony
Conservation Status: Endangered
Colour: Black, White, Grey, Brown, Yellow
Skin Type: Feathers
Favourite Food: Krill
Habitat: Rocky Antarctic Islands
Average Litter Size: 2
Main Prey: Krill, Fish, Shrimp
Predators: Leopard Seal, Killer Whale, Sharks
Distinctive Features: Bright yellow head band and pink-colored feet