Erect-crested Penguin
NameErect-crested Penguin
Common NameErect-crested Penguin
Scientific NameEudyptes sclateri
FamilySpheniscidae
Wingspan (cm)45
Length (cm)60
Weight (g)4000
Plumage DetailsAdults have dark slate-blue to black upperparts, head, and throat, contrasting with white underparts. A prominent feature is the bright yellow crests that begin above the eyes and extend backward, standing erect. The bill is large and orange-brown, and the eyes are reddish-brown.
Vocalization / CallVocalizations include loud braying, trumpeting, and squawking calls, particularly in their dense breeding colonies. These calls are used for communication between mates and during territorial disputes.
Primary Dietpiscivore
Primary Habitatscoastal
Conservation Statusendangered
Geographic RangeThe Erect-crested Penguin breeds primarily on the Bounty and Antipodes Islands, New Zealand, with smaller colonies occasionally found on Campbell and Auckland Islands. They forage in the surrounding subantarctic waters of the South Pacific.
Identifying FeaturesBright yellow erect crests above the eyes, Large orange-brown bill, Dark slate-blue upperparts and white underparts, Reddish-brown eyes
Description
The Erect-crested Penguin is a medium-sized penguin characterized by its distinctive bright yellow crests that stand upright from above its eyes. These colonial birds spend much of their lives at sea, returning to subantarctic islands to breed on rocky shores.
