Yellow-eyed Penguin

     From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Yellow-eyed Penguin Status Endangered
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Sphenisciformes Family: Spheniscidae Genus: Megadyptes Species: antipodes
Binomial name
Megadyptes antipodes (Hombron & Jacquinot, 1841)

The Yellow-eyed Penguin (Megadyptes antipodes) is a penguin found in New Zealand, on the south-east coast of South Island, Foveaux Strait and Stewart Islands, and Auckland and Campbell Islands.

This is a medium-sized penguin with pale yellow eye, growing to approximately 65cm. It has a pale yellow head with black feather shafts. There is a band of bright yellow running from its eyes around the back of the head. The juvenile has a greyer head with no band.

This penguin usually nests in forest or scrub. It feeds mainly on Red Cod, Opal Fish, sprat and squid.

The current status of this penguin is endangered, with an estimated population of 4000.

External link

• Yellow-eyed penguins from the International Penguin Conservation Web Site