Photo: Liam Quinn from Canada / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Western Rockhopper Penguin
Eudyptes chrysocome
Western Rockhopper Penguin (Eudyptes chrysocome) — Penguins of South America.
Found on 1 guide in our atlas — open it for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Western Rockhopper Penguin (Eudyptes chrysocome) is a member of the Spheniscidae family found in Oceans & Seabirds and South America. Adults weigh 2.3 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 chrysocome
Where it lives
Islands of southern Chile including Cape Horn; Falkland Is.
Quick facts
- Weight
- 2.3 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 Western Rockhopper 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 Western Rockhopper Penguin is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Western Rockhopper Penguin (Eudyptes chrysocome) is a species of bird in the Spheniscidae family, part of the order Sphenisciformes. It occurs naturally across Oceans & Seabirds and South America. Its distribution covers SA, AO islands of s Chile including Cape Horn; Falkland Is.
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 2.3 kg, with a wing length of about 9.8 cm and a tail of around 8.7 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 36,000 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Western Rockhopper Penguin?
The Western Rockhopper Penguin is a very large bird that weighs around 2.3 kg.
Where does the Western Rockhopper Penguin live?
The Western Rockhopper Penguin is found across Oceans & Seabirds and South America with a range covering SA, AO islands of s Chile including Cape Horn; Falkland Is, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Western Rockhopper Penguin belong to?
The Western Rockhopper Penguin (Eudyptes chrysocome) belongs to the Spheniscidae family, in the order Sphenisciformes.
What does the Western Rockhopper Penguin eat?
The Western Rockhopper Penguin hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Western Rockhopper Penguin migrate?
The Western Rockhopper Penguin is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Western Rockhopper 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 Western Rockhopper Penguin make?
1 real field recording of the Western Rockhopper 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 Western Rockhopper Penguin's range?
The Western Rockhopper Penguin has a mapped global range of about 36,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
Explore more birds
More in Spheniscidae
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Near Threatened
Endangered
Endangered
Endangered
More in Penguins
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Critically Endangered
Endangered
Least Concern
Vulnerable