Photo: Christian Mehlführer, User:Chmehl / CC BY 2.5 (Wikimedia Commons)
Yellow-eyed Penguin
Megadyptes antipodes
Yellow-eyed Penguin (Megadyptes antipodes) — Penguins of Australia & Oceania.
Found on 1 guide in our atlas — open it for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Yellow-eyed Penguin (Megadyptes antipodes) is a member of the Spheniscidae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 5.3 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Endangered.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Sphenisciformes
- Family Spheniscidae Penguins
- Genus Megadyptes
- Species antipodes
Where it lives
Southeastern South, Stewart and satellites, Auckland and Campbell is. (south of South I.; New Zealand)
Quick facts
- Weight
- 5.3 kg
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Spheniscidae
- Order
- Sphenisciformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Endangered
Least Concern
Endangered
Vulnerable
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Yellow-eyed 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 Yellow-eyed Penguin is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Yellow-eyed Penguin (Megadyptes antipodes) belongs to the Spheniscidae family of the order Sphenisciformes. It occurs naturally across Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU se South, Stewart and satellites, Auckland and Campbell is. (s of South I.; New Zealand).
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 5.3 kg, with a wing length of about 12.8 cm and a tail of around 5.9 cm.
It is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Endangered species face a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 81,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Yellow-eyed Penguin?
The Yellow-eyed Penguin is a very large bird that weighs around 5.3 kg.
Where does the Yellow-eyed Penguin live?
The Yellow-eyed Penguin is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU se South, Stewart and satellites, Auckland and Campbell is. (s of South I.; New Zealand), where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Yellow-eyed Penguin belong to?
The Yellow-eyed Penguin (Megadyptes antipodes) belongs to the Spheniscidae family, in the order Sphenisciformes.
What does the Yellow-eyed Penguin eat?
The Yellow-eyed Penguin hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Yellow-eyed Penguin migrate?
The Yellow-eyed Penguin is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Yellow-eyed Penguin endangered?
It is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Endangered species face a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
What sound does the Yellow-eyed Penguin make?
1 real field recording of the Yellow-eyed Penguin — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Yellow-eyed Penguin's range?
The Yellow-eyed Penguin has a mapped global range of about 81,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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