; McArthur, N.; O’Donnell, C.F.J. Polar Biology 38: 163-177. Although inter-colony trends varied greatly, the overall Cambpell Island population grew between c.1996 and 2012. schlegeli. Jouventin, P. P., Cuthbert, R. J., & Ottvall, R. R. (2006). [9], There are currently 19 species and six genera of living penguins. Vol. ; Sagar, P.M.; Thompson, D.R. ; Sagar, P.M.; Cuthbert, R.J.; Cherel, Y.; Bury, S.J. Rockhopper penguin (Eudyptes chrysocome filholi) foraging at Antipodes Islands. Moors, P.; Merton, D. 1984. They are thought to feed mainly more than 10 km offshore from breeding colonies , but this has yet to be studied in detail. ; Jamieson, S.E. What is the function of first eggs in crested penguins? 189-269 in Stonehouse, B. The Eastern Rockhopper Penguin (Eudyptes chrysocome filholi) although genetically different is still often considered as a subspecies of the Southern Rockhopper Penguin. The erect-crested penguin is endemic to New Zealand, Notornis 31: 262-265. This post is all about the Eastern rockhopper penguin. Oxford University Press, Oxford. Predation by sea lions, fur seals, skuas, and giant petrels may have important impacts on some populations. Eudyptes chrysocome filholi These eastern rockhopper penguins were seen on an outcrop off Auckland Island, seemingly demonstrating their social hierarchy. Fledglings (c.65 days old) are bluish black where they will later be black, and have a black bill and no obvious crest. Other populations may eat a greater proportion of crustaceans. Melbourne, Oxford University Press. Auk 115: 478-482. ; Bost, C.A. 2017. The yellow eye-brow stripe starts well back from the bill and is very thin until behind the eye, where it flares out as a crest that also includes long black feathers. Several individuals travelled a total of c.15,000 km. Northern Penguins begin the mating process two months earlier than Southern ones. The mid-Pleistocene climatic transition was associated with the southward migration of frontal positions and islands became surrounded by subtropical water masses, resulting in a split between Northern and Southern rockhopper penguins. Stats. The female being smaller weighing 5.1 to 5.9 pounds than the male weighing 6.2 to 7.5 pounds. Morrison, K.W. They are very opportunistic when it comes to feeding. Morrison, K.W. Notornis 52: 75-80. [2][3] Rockhopper penguins consume more krill than they do fish; their diet changes during migration and as the seasons change. The Falkland Islands are known to have one of the largest populations of southern rockhopper penguins.[5]. ; Hitchmough, R.A.; Miskelly, C.M. 7 fun facts about the eastern rockhopper penguin, New Zealand’s next Bird of The Year Meet the cute and sassy eastern rockhopper penguin and vote it Bird of the Year.. 1994. Thiebot, J. American Naturalist 176: 357-366. Eastern rockhopper penguins are readily identified as a species of ‘crested penguin’ (genus Eudyptes) by their spiky yellow crest feathers, black back, white front, and orange-brown bill. Adult plumage is attained at 2 years of age. Breeding seasons and sexual dimorphism in rockhopper penguins. they grow to about 20 inches, and most likely eat small fish, krill, and other crustaceans Eastern rockhopper penguins are migratory, offshore-foragers. Eggs are laid about 4-5 days apart. Retrieved October 23, 2014. de Dinechin, M., Ottvall, R., Quillfeldt, P., & Jouventin, P. (2009). The Eastern Rockhopper penguin breeds on subantarctic islands in the New Zealand region. Marchant, S.; Higgins, P.J. The difference in mating signals Eastern Rockhopper Penguin's habitat is the Australian sub antarctic region. Eastern rockhopper penguin. Individual repeatability in laying behaviour does not support the migration carry-over effect hypothesis of egg-size dimorphism in eastern rockhopper penguins. Retrieved October 23, 2014, from Web of Science. found between the subspecies E. chrysocome (southern) and E. moseleyi (northern) seems to have occurred quickly, thus these behavioral changes are enough to isolate these taxa. Southern rockhoppers are then further identified as Eastern or Western. [11], Adult Rockhopper penguins have no land-based predators. Rockhopper penguins are among the smaller species of penguin. Warham, J. Oil spills pose a looming threat, especially if attempts are made to extract oil from seas south of New Zealand. The breeding biology and factors affecting reproductive success in rockhopper penguins Eudyptes chrysocome at Macquarie Island. Some crest feathers are pendulant, but barely reach as far as the black-white demarcation line on the throat (cf. Elsewhere they breed on Heard, Kerguelen, Crozet, Marion and Prince Edward Islands (all in the southern Indian Ocean). They are more of Olympic penguins. [7] Because of how widespread they are, breeding varies among the penguins in different areas. ; Battley, P.F. Extremely rare in South African Waters, an Eastern Rockhopper penguin (Eudyptes.Chrysocome filholi) which was admitted to our Cape St Francis centre on 26 February 2017, was flown to Cape Town on Thursday 30 March, courtesy of BidAir Cargo. They make nests and burrows in tall grasses called tussocks. Molecular Ecology, 3413-3423. [13] These activities have depleted much of the rockhopper penguin's food supply and raised the sea surface temperatures, and because this species is geographically isolated to the tip of South America and the Falkland Islands and is very sensitive to food web changes, there is little foreseeable opportunity for the penguins to recover.[13][14]. 2013 [updated 2017]. Cunningham, D. M.; Moors, P.J. New Zealand Journal of Ecology 38:124-131. Dehnhard, N.; Poisbleau, M.; Demongin, L.; Ludynia, K.; Lecoq, M.; Masello, J.F. The number of eastern rockhopper penguins Eudyptes chrysocome filholi breeding at subantarctic Marion Island decreased from about 173 000 pairs in 1994/95 to about 67 000 pairs in 2001/02. [1] The cause of this decline is mainly unknown, but scientists have speculated that humans are involved, mostly by commercial overfishing, oil exploitation, and pollution.