Bird guideFiordland Penguin

The orange bill has no bare skin at the base.

⚠️Not listed
🍃Indigenous: Victoria Penguin, Thick-Billed Penguin

At a glance

FamilyPenguins
SizeLarge
RarityRare
Habitatclosed forest, open woodland, grassland, sparse woodland, and waterbodies
Best timeMost reliable in Victoria from January.

Sounds

Sound sample
0:000:00
Recorded by Raphaël SANE

Range map

Range map

44visible hotspots
92visible records
4states
Low confidenceMediumHigh confidence

Aggregated occurance data is sourced from 14 different actively-updating datasets including eBird Australia, iNaturalist Australia, BirdLife Australia, and multiple state-based bird surveys through Atlas of Living Australia.

Species notes

Overview

Look for white stripes on cheek which can be splayed out when threatened. Cheek stripes and lack of bare skin at base of bill help distinguish this species from Snares and Erect-crested Penguins.

Behavior

Breeds and molts in dense coastal forest, thick shrubs, and caves along the southwestern coast of the South Island and Stewart Island. Calls vary from emphatic trumpeting to a low-pitched growl or hiss.

Regional timing

Victoria
Peak: January55 records
New South Wales
Peak: November14 records
Tasmania
Peak: January to February37 records
South Australia
Peak: July to August7 records
Western Australia
Peak: July6 records
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