What Penguin is That? – Cruise Traveller

What Penguin is That?

Do you have “Zoomania”?

Zoomania is described as: “An insane fondness for animals” – and we think that most of our office may have this disorder.

So for all our Zoomaniacs – here is our list of adorable penguins that you may be lucky enough to find if you ever travel to one of the world’s most least-visited places – The Sub Antarctics…


Snares Crested Penguin

Eudyptes robustus

Breeds: Subantarctics
Size: Approx 60cm
Food:  Krill, squid & small fish
Rated:  Vulnerable

A tall, portly, medium-sized crested penguin with a black back, face and throat, sharply demarcated from white underparts. A broad yellow crest runs above the eye, the large orange bill has a thin strip of pink skin around the base, the eyes are brownish-red, and the legs and feet are pinkish-white.


Northern Gentoo Penguin

Pygoscelis papua

Breeds:  Subantarctic Islands
Size: Approx 80cm
Food:  Krill, squid & small fish
Rated:  Near threatened

A large black-and-white penguin with a white triangle over each eye joined by a thin white band over the hind-crown, sparse white feathers on the dark head, and a black-tipped orange bill. The rest of the head and the neck and back are dark grey, the bill and feet are bright orange, and the tail is relatively long.


Moseley’s Rockhopper Penguin

Eudyptes moseleyi

Breeds:  Subantarctic Islands
Size: Approx 55cm
Food:  Krill, squid & fish
Rated:  Vulnerable

A medium-sized, stocky black-and-white crested penguin with a narrow yellow stripe above each eye, long yellow crest tassels that grow from behind each eye and spiky black feathers growing from the back of the head. The head, flipper-like wings, back, and tail are slate-grey to black, the underparts and ‘trousers’ are white, the chunky bill is reddish-brown bill and the eyes brilliant red.


King Penguin

Aptenodytes patagonicus

Breeds: Subantarctics
Size:  Approx 95cm
Food:  Krill, squid & fish
Rated:  Least concern

A very tall, stocky black-and-white penguin with a relatively small head with bright golden-orange spoon-shaped markings on both sides of the neck and a long, slender decurved black bill with an orange stripe. The rest of the head and the chin, throat, tail and flipper-like wings are black, the back is silvery-grey, and the belly is satin white.


Royal Penguin

Eudyptes schiegeli

Breeds:  Subantarctic Islands
Size: Approx 70cm
Food:  Krill, squid & small fish
Rated:  Near threatened

A tall, portly black-and-white crested penguin with a white to greyish face, an enormous orange bill with prominent pink skin at the base, and foppish orange-yellow crests that meet on the forehead. The upperparts are blue-black and the underparts silky white.


Erect Crested Penguin

Eudyptes sclateri

Breeds:  Subantarctic Islands
Size: Approx 65cm
Food:  Crustaceans & squid
Rated:  Endangered

A medium-large crested penguin with a black back, face and throat, sharply demarcated from white underparts. Yellow eyebrow stripes start between the nostril and gape, rising obliquely over the red-brown eyes, and the large orange-brown bill has prominent pale blue-white skin around the base.


Yellow Eyed Penguin

Megadyptes antipodes

Breeds: Subantarctics
Size:  Approx 65cm
Food:  Bottom dwelling Fish
Rated:  Endangered

A tall, portly penguin with a pale yellow band of feathers that runs from each yellow eye around the nape, a long straight red-brown and pale cream bill, and pink and black feet. The rest of the head, neck and dorsal surface is slate blue; the breast and belly white down to the feet.


Eastern Rockhopper Penguin

Eudyptes filholi

Breeds:  Subantarctic Islands
Size: Approx 50cm
Food:  Krill, squid & small fish
Rated:  Vulnerable

A medium-sized, stocky black-and-white crested penguin with spiky yellow crest feathers, black back, white front, and orange-brown bill. The eyes are red and the bare skin at the base of the bill, and the feet and the legs are pinkish-white.


Source: New Zealand Birds Online