Eudyptes moseleyi
The Northern Rockhopper Penguin, *Eudyptes moseleyi*, is a small, distinctive crested penguin, typically measuring 50-55 cm (20-22 in) in height and weighing 2.5-3.5 kg (5.5-7.7 lb). Its most striking field marks are the bright yellow superciliary stripes that extend into shaggy, yellow-orange crests above its reddish-brown eyes, contrasting with its black upperparts and white belly. This species belongs to the genus *Eudyptes*, the crested penguins, and was formerly considered a subspecies o...
Breeds on steep, rocky coastal areas and cliff ledges on remote sub-Antarctic islands, spending its non-breeding season foraging in the open ocean.
Primarily feeds on krill, various crustaceans (such as amphipods and euphausiids), small cephalopods, and small fish, which it catches through pursuit diving.
Northern Rockhopper Penguins are diurnal, spending their days foraging at sea and returning to their dense colonies on land each evening. They are pursuit divers, feeding individually or in small groups on various marine prey, capable of dives exceeding 100 meters. Despite their highly social col...
The Northern Rockhopper Penguin has a highly restricted and fragmented breeding distribution, primarily on remote sub-Antarctic islands in the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans. In the South Atlantic, key breeding sites include the Tristan da Cunha archipelago (Tristan da Cunha, Inaccessible, Nigh...
Endangered
- Named 'Rockhopper' for their distinctive method of traversing rocky terrain by hopping rather than waddling. - Their bright yellow superciliary crests are exceptionally shaggy and one of the most distinctive among all penguin species. - Despite laying two eggs, the first egg is often significan...