At a glance
Range map
Range map
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
Eastern Rockhopper breeds on various subantarctic islands around New Zealand and in the southern Indian Ocean. Most often seen at breeding colonies, but singles or small groups can sometimes be found in the open ocean far from land. Compare with Erect-crested Penguin in the New Zealand subantarctic; note Eastern Rockhopper’s smaller size, smaller bill, and thinner yellow eyebrow. Compare with larger Macaroni Penguin in the Indian Ocean, which has a larger bill and deeper golden head plumes. Typically no range overlap with Northern or Western Rockhopper, but vagrants are possible anywhere in the Southern Ocean; note details of bill pattern and crest shape.
Behavior
Formerly known as Southern Rockhopper Penguin, but recently split into Eastern and Western Rockhopper.
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