Rare, uncommon vagrant, but moulting immatures recorded almost annually (December - March) in south-eastern Australia, mostly Victoria and Tasmania.
Habitat
Marine in cool temperate waters around New Zealand, especially south Westland, Fiordland and Stewart Islands. Assumed to be pelagic outside of the breeding season.
Voice
Persistent, loud, harsh and low-pitched calls, throughout the day, peaking at dusk, and less at night. Calls consistently throughout the breeding season.
Fiordland Penguin (Eudyptes pachyrhynchus) [XC207313]
by id from Rakiura National Park (near Stewart Island), Southland District, Southland, New Zealand (call)
Fiordland Penguin (Eudyptes pachyrhynchus) [XC198196]
by Dan Lane from Doubtful Sound, Fiordland National Park, Southland, New Zealand (call)
Breeding Season (Guide)
Late July - early August in New Zealand and offshore islands.
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Nest
A shallow cup, usually sparsely lined with fern fronds, leaves, sticks and sometimes stones, on the ground under dense forest or scrub, on steep slopes of promontory, scattered with rocks, and also in deep rock tumbles on shorelines of some islands. In loose colonies.
Eggs (Guide)
2; dull white with slight blue tinge; oval; first egg averaging 67 x 52 mm, the second being slightly larger, 71 x 55 mm. Incubation: by both sexes.
Young
Fed by female during the guard-stage and later both parents.
Subspecies
Forms a superspecies with Snares Penguin (Eudyptes robustus) and Erect-crested Penguin (Eudyptes sclateri) and both have previously been considered as subspecies of Fiordland Penguin (Eudyptes pachyrhynchus).
No subspecies.
Similar Species
Adults with adult Snares Penguin (Eudyptes robustus), which has alonger, more robust bill, narrower supercillium, deeper yellow, and crest feathers are usually longer, Erect-crested Penguin (Eudyptes sclateri) which is taller, longer, less robust bill, and has bolder markings on the underside of flippers, Southern Rockhopper Penguin (Eudyptes chrysocome), which is smaller and has a smaller bill and Macaroni Penguin (Eudyptes chrysolophus) and Royal Penguin (Eudyptes schlegeli) are taller, with longer, more massive bills and very prominent dark-pink skin at the base of the bill and at the gape. Juvenile with juvenile Snares Penguin (Eudyptes robustus) which is leaner, with a larger bill that has small pink fleshy margins, a narrower and more yellow supercillium, Erect-crested Penguin (Eudyptes sclateri) which is taller and more gangly, bill is duller and slimmer, Southern Rockhopper Penguin (Eudyptes chrysocome) which is smaller and has a smaller bill, and Macaroni Penguin (Eudyptes chrysolophus) and Royal Penguin (Eudyptes schlegeli) which are taller with long slimmer bills with a bright pink trianglar patch of skin at the gape.
Snares Penguin (Eudyptes robustus)
Larger. Adult with adult. Has a longer, more robust bill. Has pink skin at base of bill. Supercillium is narrower and deeper yellow. Crest feathers are usually longer.
Erect-crested Penguin (Eudyptes sclateri)
Similar size. Has a longer, less robust bill. Has bolder markings on the underside of flippers.
Compare Images
The Field Guide to the Birds of Australia Pizzey, G., and Knight, E., 1997, Angus & Robertson, Sydney ISBN 0 207 19691 5
Field Guide to Australian Birds Morecombe, M., 2000, Steve Parish Publishing Pty Ltd. ISBN 1 876282 10 X
Field Guide to the Birds of Australia Simpson, K., and Day, N., 1999, 6th Edition, Viking ISBN 0 670 87918 5
Reader's Digest Complete Book of Australian Birds 1988, 2nd Edition, Reader's Digest ISBN 0 949819 99 9
What Bird is That? 1984, Revised Edition, Angus & Robertson, Sydney ISBN 0 207 14846 5
Handbook of Australian, New Zealand & Antarctic Birds 1990 - , Oxford University Press, Melbourne ISBN 0 19 553244 9
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BirdLife International Species Factsheet