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(Southern) Rockhopper Penguin
(Eudyptes chrysocome)
: "Crested Penguin", "Jackass Penguin"
Size: 45-58 cm
Weight: 2-3.4 kg
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Similar species |
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Physical description |
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Click here for a physical description
(Southern) Rockhopper Penguins are small penguins, with an all-white
front and an all-black back. Their most outstanding features
are yellow whiskers on the forehead and a strong orange-pink
bill. Their legs and feet are skin-pink.
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Taxonomy, classification |
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See (Southern)
Rockhopper Penguin at Wikipedia .
Click here for classification information
The taxonomic status of (Southern) Rockhopper Penguins is uncertain. They are
considered by many to be nominate race "chrysocome" of Eudyptes
chrysocome ([Southern (Southern) Rockhopper Penguin], where the other races
are "moseleyi" [Northern (Southern) Rockhopper Penguin], "filholi" [Eastern
and Western (Southern) Rockhopper Penguin]), whereas other sources give each
one of these full species status.
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Range, habitat, finding this species |
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Click here for information on habitat
and range
The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and
specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found,
based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to
ebird.org
.
The global distribution of the Rockhopper Penguin is available
HERE
.
Rockhopper Penguins are found along the fringes of Antarctica
and around the southern tip of South America.
On Australian soil
(Southern) Rockhopper Penguins live on subantarctic islands of Australia,
including Macquarie Island.
(Southern) Rockhopper Penguins are non-flying pelagic birds that spend
most of their time out in the open ocean and in coastal waters.
Penguins can also spend much of their time on ice.
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Sightings |
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Click here for sighting information
B. Hensen reports spotting (Southern) Rockhopper Penguins on Macquarie Island
in the Southern Ocean in December 1993.
M. Mearns reports spotting (Southern) Rockhopper Penguins on the Antarctic
continent in January 2005.
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Photos |
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Race "filholi"
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ADULT |
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Close-up frontal view of an adult (Southern) Rockhopper Penguin in a rock
crevice (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Macquarie Island, Southern Ocean, December 1993]
Frontal view of a (Southern) Rockhopper Penguin with its head turned
(photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Macquarie Island, Southern Ocean, December 1993]
Close-up near-lateral portrait of a (Southern) Rockhopper Penguin
(photo courtesy of M. Mearns)
[Antarctica, January 2005]
Near-lateral view of two (Southern) Rockhopper Penguins (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Macquarie Island, Southern Ocean, December 1993]
Lateral view of a (Southern) Rockhopper Penguin preening
(photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Macquarie Island, Southern Ocean, December 1993]
These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our
contributors.
The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species
please refer to a field guide.