A look at the smallest penguin species…
Southern rockhopper penguin guide: how to identify, what to eat and why they can jump
Despite their diminutive size, these penguins are incredibly resilient inhabitants of the harsh Antarctic environment.
How to identify southern rockhopper penguins
The narrow pale-yellow crest of Eudyptes chrysocome starts as a thin stripe over each bright red eye and increases in length towards the back of the head.
It has a black back, tail, head and throat with a white front. The beak is orange-red and the feet are pink with black soles. The duller juveniles have a minimal crest and grey throat; the chicks are brown and white.
Where do southern rockhopper penguins live?
On the windswept, rocky coastlines of the islands north of Antarctica, from Chile to New Zealand.
Can southern rockhopper penguin’s really jump?
Yes. In fact, their most distinctive feature is their ability to jump and hop from rock to rock, a skill that comes in handy for navigating their rocky nesting sites.
What do southern rockhopper penguins eat?
Southern rockhopper penguins eat mainly fish, squid, octopuses, krill and other small crustaceans.
What are the breeding habits of the southern rockhopper penguins?
Southern rockhopper penguins breed in large, dense and noisy colonies, often alongside black-browed albatrosses and imperial cormorants.
These colonies can be up to 60m (197ft) above sea level. The nest is a shallow depression lined with mud, stones and feathers, and they may even make use of an abandoned black-browed albatross nest.
The exact breeding season varies with location, but the two eggs are usually laid 4–5 days apart, in early November. The second egg is larger than the first and, after around five weeks of incubation by both parents, usually hatches first.
Unless conditions are exceptionally favourable, it is this chick that is preferentially fed and survives, with the smaller egg chick dying from neglect. The chick is brooded by the male for three–four weeks while the female forages and provisions it. Small crèches then form, allowing both parents to forage until the chick fledges at around 10 weeks.
What are the main predators of southern rockhopper penguin?
The eggs and chicks are predated by skuas, gulls and caracaras and at sea the adult birds are targeted by South American Sea Lions, sharks, fur seals and giant petrels.
How big are southern rockhopper penguins?
45–58cm (17.7–22.8in), 2–3.8kg (4.4–8.4lb) depending on time of year and gender.
What’s the population of the southern rockhopper penguin?
Around 2.5 million mature individuals and decreasing.
What’s the conservation status of the southern rockhopper penguin?
Vulnerable (IUCN Red List 2020).
Wildlife photographer Ursula Clare Franklin’s new book, Mission Penguin, chronicles her journey to capture all 18 penguin species worldwide, from the Galapagos to Antarctica. Available from 24th October, published by Bloomsbury Wildlife.