LITTLE (BLUE) PENGUINS (Eudyptula minor)
SIZE:
- Up to 16 in. (41 cm)
- 2 lb (1 kg)
THREAT LEVEL:
Least concern
DISTRIBUTION:
- Southern Australia, New Zealand
HABITAT:
They forage during the day and often will sleep beside the nest at night after they have fed chicks. This species nests in burrows, under trees, in rock crevices, and sometimes in caves. Usually nests are clustered to form colonies, but single breeding pairs are not uncommon. At sea Little Penguins are often found alone or in small groups of up to ten birds, but sometimes these groups can be much larger. Although foraging trip durations can be highly variable, Little Penguins tend to stay close to the coast.
MARKINGS:
Smallest of all penguins, they have slate blue feathers and silver eyes.
NEST TYPE:
- burrow, cave or under bushes
PREY:
- Small fishes like anchovies and sardines
PREDATORS:
- Australian sea lions, fur seals, dogs, cats, stoats, ferrets
POPULATION ESTIMATE:
- 700,000-1.2 million individuals
Sources:
http://www.penguins.cl/penguins-species.htm
http://www.penguinworld.com/types/adelie.html
noaa.org
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