Western Rockhopper Penguin
NameWestern Rockhopper Penguin
Common NameWestern Rockhopper Penguin
Scientific NameEudyptes chrysocome
FamilySpheniscidae
Wingspan (cm)22.5
Length (cm)50
Weight (g)2700
Plumage DetailsAdults have a black back, head, and throat, contrasting sharply with a white belly and chest. A prominent bright yellow superciliary stripe extends from above each eye, forming a long, spiky crest at the back of the head. They possess an orange-red bill and striking red eyes.
Vocalization / CallKnown for their loud and raucous vocalizations, including braying, trumpeting, and squawking calls, especially when in their dense breeding colonies.
Primary Dietpiscivore
Primary Habitatscoastal
Conservation Statusvulnerable
Geographic RangeFound on subantarctic islands in the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans, with the Western subspecies primarily inhabiting the Falkland Islands and islands off Argentina and Chile.
Identifying FeaturesBright yellow superciliary stripe forming a crest, Red eyes, Orange-red bill, Black head and back with white belly, Hopping gait on land
Description
The Western Rockhopper Penguin is a small, crested penguin characterized by its distinctive yellow superciliary stripe and bright red eyes. These highly social birds are agile swimmers, feeding at sea, but move by hopping on land where they form large, noisy breeding colonies on rocky coasts.
