Little Penguin

Identification

The little penguin is the world's smallest penguin species, typically standing between 30 and 33 centimetres tall and weighing around 1.5 kilograms. Its most distinctive feature is its slate-blue plumage on the head and upper parts, which gives rise to its common names: fairy penguin, little blue penguin, or blue penguin. The underparts fade from slate-grey ear coverts to white on the chin and belly, while the flippers are blue and the feet are pink above with black soles and webbing. The dark grey-black beak measures 3–4 centimetres long. Like all penguins, its wings have evolved into powerful flippers for swimming rather than flight. Immature individuals can be distinguished by their shorter bills and lighter upperparts. The species' distinctive blue colour comes from dense melanosomes in the feathers, which also increase water resistance.

Range & Habitat

The little penguin originates from New Zealand and Australia, though taxonomic analysis has revealed two genetically distinct populations. Eudyptula minor is endemic to New Zealand, while the Australian little penguin (Eudyptula novaehollandiae) is found across Southern Australia—including New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia, Western Australia, and Jervis Bay Territory—as well as in the Otago region of New Zealand. Colonies primarily exist on offshore islands, where they are protected from feral terrestrial predators and human disturbance.

The little penguin is a marine neritic species with a foraging range that is quite limited compared to flying seabirds. Tagged and banded birds have demonstrated that individual penguins can travel considerable distances during their lifetimes, with records showing movements between distant locations across southern waters.

Behaviour & Diet

Little penguins are diurnal divers, spending their days foraging for food in the ocean before returning to burrows on the shore at dusk. The Australian lineage exhibits distinctive group behaviour, swimming together in large groups after dusk and walking along the shore to reach their nesting sites—a strategy thought to provide protection from predators. This behaviour has not been observed in the New Zealand lineage. The two populations also differ vocally, with females of the New Zealand lineage preferring the local call patterns of their own population.

Reproductive strategies vary between populations. The Australian little penguin practises double brooding, laying a second clutch of eggs after the first has successfully fledged, possibly in response to changing sea surface temperatures and food availability. This behaviour has never been observed in the New Zealand population. Little penguins have a long lifespan, averaging 6.5 years, with exceptional individuals in captivity reaching up to 25 years.

Best Time & Places to See It

The best opportunities to observe little penguins occur at dusk, when they return from their daytime foraging to their burrows on shore. Offshore islands in southern Australia and New Zealand offer the most reliable viewing locations, as colonies congregate in these protected areas away from terrestrial predators. The Otago region of New Zealand and coastal colonies across Southern Australia, including Victoria, Tasmania, and South Australia, are known strongholds for the species.

Photography Tips

Photography should focus on the evening hours when penguins return from the sea, providing opportunities to capture their distinctive slate-blue plumage and small stature. The contrast between their blue upperparts and white underparts can be striking in good light. When photographing at colonies on offshore islands, maintain a respectful distance to avoid disturbing nesting birds and their burrows. The penguins' pink feet and pale eye-rings are distinctive details worth capturing in close-up shots. Early evening light during the return-to-shore period will provide optimal conditions for revealing the blue coloration that makes this species so visually distinctive.