Rare, vagrant to Tasmania. Also recorded Victoria and as far west as South Australia.
Habitat
Cool temperate and sub-Antarctic waters around the only breeding site, Snares Island. During breeding season mainly found near the coast. Assumed to be pelagic outside the breeding season.
Food
Mostly crustaceans, especially euphausiids, some cephelopods but rarely fish, taken by pursuit-diving. Usually seen in small flocks with breeding congregations of Buller's Albatross (Thalassarche bulleri), Shy Albatross (Thalassarche cauta), Sooty Shearwater (Ardenna grisea), Cape Petrel (Daption capense), diving-petrels, Silver Gull (Larus novaehollandiae) are Antarctic Tern (Sterna vittata).
Voice
Persistent, loud, harsh and low-pitched calls. Calls throughout the day, peaking at dusk, less often at night.
Snares Penguin (Eudyptes robustus) [XC34711]
by Sander Lagerveld from Snares Island, New Zealand (call, calls of birds on rocks by sea)
Snares Penguin (Eudyptes robustus) [XC396184]
by Frank Lambert from Snares Island, New Zealand (call)
Breeding Season (Guide)
Late September - October, November, on Snares Island.
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Nest
A shallow cup, sometims raised on a platform, lined with twigs, small branches, vegetable matter and mud, or of granite chips, fish and bone, with little soil or vegetable matter (Western Chain), on the ground, in flat muddy areas under forest or in the open, also on rock ledges and platforms, usually sheltered by trees, shrubs or rock falls, but sometimes exposed. In small to medium sized colonies.
Eggs (Guide)
2, but occasionally 1; matt, chalky, pale blue-grey becoming stained; short-oval to oval; about 67 x 51 mm for the first egg, and about 72 x 56 mm for the second. Incubation: 31 - 37 days; by both sexes. The eggs are incubated in the brood patch on the lower abdomen.
Young
Semi-altricial, semi-nidicolous. Fledge in about 75 days. Fed by both parents but mostly by female.
Similar Species
Fiordland Penguin (Eudyptes pachyrhynchus)
Slightly smaller. Adult with adult. Bill is shorter, and less robust. Supercillium is broader and paler yellow. Crest feathers are usually shorter. Juvenile with juvenile. Bill is smaller. Supercillium is broader and paler yellow.
Southern Rockhopper Penguin (Eudyptes chrysocome)
Smaller. Immature with immature. Has a shorter and less robust bill, and bare skin at gape and base of bill less prominent. Supercillium is narrower. Crest is longer and more pendulous with more black feathers. Eye is red.
Erect-crested Penguin (Eudyptes sclateri)
Larger. Bill is not as stout, and redder. Supercillium is broader. Crest does not droop as much posteriorly.
Macaroni Penguin (Eudyptes chrysolophus)
Similar size. Bill is darker red. Crest is yellow and both sides meet at the forehead. Eye is dark brown-red.
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