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A small black-and-white penguin with a wild, bushy yellow crest.
Not listed
At a glance
FamilyPenguins
SizeSmall
RarityRare
HabitatCoastlines, harbours, offshore waters, estuaries, headlands, beaches, and large inland water when conditions suit.
Best timeMost reliable in New South Wales from November to December.
Sounds
Sound sampleRecorded by Chris Taylor
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
Very similar to Southern Rockhopper Penguin, but slightly larger, with a much larger and denser yellow crest. Extremely vocal, most often giving loud braying and barking sounds with accompanying head-swinging and flipper-beating.
Behavior
Marine and variably pelagic, foraging offshore and nesting on boulder-strewn beaches and among stands of tussock grass.
Gallery