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Attractive, medium-sized penguin that is rarely seen away from well-known colony sites.
Not listed
Indigenous: Rock Hopper
At a glance
FamilyPenguins
SizeSmall
RarityUncommon
HabitatCoastlines, harbours, offshore waters, estuaries, headlands, beaches, and large inland water when conditions suit.
Best timeMost reliable in Tasmania from December.
Sounds
Sound sampleRecorded by Meena Haribal
Range map
Range map
1visible hotspots
1visible records
1states
SparseModerateDense hotspot
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
Appearance is distinctive with white “headphones” and a lipstick-orange bill unlike any other penguin. Striking head and bill pattern also make it one of the easiest penguins to identify when seen swimming at sea.
Behavior
Nests in small colonies and occurs around King and Magellanic Penguins in northern areas of its range, as on the Falklands.
Gallery