Snares Penguin

The Snares penguin, a native of New Zealand, is a medium-sized bird with a distinctive yellow crest. It measures between 50 to 70 centimeters in length and weighs between 2.5 to 4 kilograms. Its plumage is a stark contrast of dark blue-black on the upper parts and a pure white on the underparts. A striking feature is the bright yellow eyebrow-stripe that extends over the eye, forming a drooping, bushy crest. The base of its large red-brown bill is adorned with bare pink skin.

Identification Tips

To identify the Snares penguin, look for its yellow-crested head and the pink skin at the base of its robust red-brown bill. Its eyes, a vivid red-brown, may vary slightly between individuals. Underwing patterns are unique to each bird but are not reliable for species identification.

Habitat

The Snares penguin breeds on the Snares Islands, preferring dense colonies under the forest canopy of Olearia trees or on coastal rocks. They construct nests by digging shallow holes and lining them with grass, leaves, and pebbles.

Distribution

This species is endemic to the Snares Islands, located off the southern coast of New Zealand's South Island. While their range outside the breeding season is not well-documented, they are occasionally sighted near Tasmania, southern Australia, the Chatham Islands, Stewart Island, and the southern New Zealand mainland.

Behaviour

Snares penguins are social birds, nesting in colonies that can range from a mere 10 nests to over a thousand. They exhibit a variety of vocalizations, from hisses and explosive cries when threatened to rhythmic braying and trumpeting that can be heard from afar.

Song & Calls

The vocal repertoire of the Snares penguin is diverse, including hisses, explosive cries, rhythmic braying, and trumpeting sounds that carry over long distances.

Breeding

Breeding season takes place during the New Zealand summer, from early September to late January. Courtship involves males displaying an erect posture with wings spread and chest pumped. After pairing, males primarily construct the nest. Females lay two eggs, with the second, larger egg typically hatching first. Both parents share incubation duties, with the male embarking on extended foraging trips during the incubation period.

Similar Species

The Snares penguin is often compared to the Fiordland penguin but can be distinguished by the patch of skin at the base of their beaks.

Diet and Feeding

Their diet primarily consists of krill, supplemented by small fish and cephalopods. Foraging strategies vary with breeding stages, with males undertaking longer trips and females focusing on shorter excursions to provide for their chicks.

Conservation status

The Snares penguin is classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN. Its restricted breeding range to a small island group makes it susceptible to threats such as introduced predators, overfishing, climate change, and pollution. New Zealand has taken measures to protect the species' habitat and feeding grounds.