Photo: Thomas Mattern / CC BY 2.5 (Wikimedia Commons)
Snares Penguin
Eudyptes robustus
Snares Penguin (Eudyptes robustus) — Penguins of Australia & Oceania.
Found across 5 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Snares Penguin (Eudyptes robustus) is a member of the Spheniscidae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 3 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Vulnerable.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Sphenisciformes
- Family Spheniscidae Penguins
- Genus Eudyptes
- Species robustus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 3 kg
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Spheniscidae
- Order
- Sphenisciformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Vulnerable
Endangered
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Snares Penguin hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of open sea and coastal waters, it swims and feeds in and around water.
Migration
The Snares Penguin is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Snares Penguin (Eudyptes robustus) belongs to the Spheniscidae family of the order Sphenisciformes. Its range spans Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU Snares I. (s of South I., New Zealand).
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 3 kg, with a wing length of about 9.8 cm and a tail of around 8.5 cm.
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 3 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Snares Penguin?
The Snares Penguin is a very large bird that weighs around 3 kg.
Where does the Snares Penguin live?
The Snares Penguin is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU Snares I. (s of South I., New Zealand), where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Snares Penguin belong to?
The Snares Penguin (Eudyptes robustus) belongs to the Spheniscidae family, in the order Sphenisciformes.
What does the Snares Penguin eat?
The Snares Penguin hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Snares Penguin migrate?
The Snares Penguin is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Snares Penguin endangered?
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
What sound does the Snares Penguin make?
1 real field recording of the Snares Penguin — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Snares Penguin's range?
The Snares Penguin has a mapped global range of about 3 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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