Rockhopper penguin
Eudyptes chrysocome
Rockhoppers are the smallest of the crested penguins. The head has bright yellow and black spiked feathers and perform bowing behaviour in order to attract a mate and declare their territory. They are aggressive birds and defend the territory determinedly with their sharp beaks.
Our rockhopper penguin colony can be seen on their ‘pebble beach’ or you can admire their skills at the underwater viewing area. They share their area with our gentoo penguins. The rockhopper penguin can be up to 55 centimetres long and can weigh up to five kilograms.
We have two rockhopper penguins and 41 gentoo penguins.
You can take part in an interactive animal experience with our rockhopper penguins.
IUCN red list status
The IUCN status of the Rockhopper penguin is endangered.
For more information on classifications visit www.iucnredlist.org.
Animal class
Bird
Conservation status
The IUCN considers rockhopper penguins to be facing a high risk of extinction. Over the last 30 years, the population has declined by 30 per cent.
Habitat
Water
Population
It is estimated there could be as many as 1,750,000 pairs of breeding rockhopper penguins, but numbers are in decline.
Diet
Piscivore. The rockhopper penguin eats mainly krill, but will also eat squid and fish.