Facts about the yellow-eyed penguin/hoiho
Yellow-eyed penguin in dunes
The yellow-eyed penguin/hoiho (Megadyptes antipodes) is named for its yellow iris and distinctive yellow headband.
Adults are grey-blue in colour, with a snow-white belly and pink feet.
Their chicks are covered in thick, brown fluffy feathers that they shed to fledge at between 98 to 120 days. Their immature plumage has a yellow head band and extends to a yellow head with fully adult plumage when they're 14 - 16 months old.
The species' Māori name, hoiho - noise shouter - refers to their shrill call. Often heard when they encounter others in their colony.
Lifespan: lenghty as some individuals can live up to 20 years and the oldest recorded banded bird was over 20.
Size: adults reach around 65 cm in height and weigh around 5 to 5.5 kg.
Diet: small to medium sized fish such as sprat, red cod, and squid.
Behaviour: the only penguin species that doesn't become tame. Also the least social and a solitary breeder.
Habitat
The yellow-eyed penguin is equally dependant on marine and land habitat, which includes forest and scrubland and, sometimes, grazed pasture. This provides nesting ground as well as loafing space.
Their marine habitat is equally important because it provides food and allows for dispersal and movement between land habitats.
Population and range
Yellow-eyed penguins are found along the south-east South Island, on islands off Stewart Island, Stewart Island itself, the Auckland Islands and Campbell Island.
The total number of individual penguins is estimated to range between 6000-7000. The key figure, however, is the number of breeding pairs. In the 1980's research on the Otago Peninsula showed that the number of breeding pairs had declined significantly, leading to fears for the future of the mainland population.
In the 25 years since 1981 there has been dramatic variations in breeding pair numbers in the South Island but recent figures (2006) show that there is very little difference in breeding pairs between 1981 and 2006. Currently there are around 630 pairs on the South Island's south-east coast.
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