Fiordland Penguin

The Fiordland Penguin, called tawaki in Maori, is a medium-sized crested penguin with glossy blue-black upperparts and clean white underparts, set apart by a broad yellow stripe running from the base of the bill back over each eye to form a drooping crest at the rear of the head. Pale whitish streaks on the cheeks are another distinguishing feature of this species.

Unusually among penguins, it breeds along the rugged, densely forested coastline of Fiordland and on Stewart Island, nesting under coastal rainforest cover, in caves, or among boulders and tree roots rather than on open beaches, a reflection of the wet, temperate climate of its restricted breeding range. It remains one of the least studied and rarest penguin species due to the remoteness and difficulty of access to its breeding grounds.

Key field marks

• Glossy blue-black upperparts and white underparts
• Broad yellow eyebrow stripe extending back into a drooping crest
• Pale whitish streaking on the cheeks
• Large, heavy reddish-brown bill
• Pink feet

Similar species

• Snares Penguin is very similar but lacks the pale cheek streaking and has a slightly different crest shape, and breeds only on the Snares Islands, not mainland New Zealand coastline.
• Fiordland Penguin breeding under forest cover, rather than on open beaches, is itself a useful behavioral clue distinguishing it from most other penguin species encountered around New Zealand.

Range

Breeds only along the remote southwest coast of Fiordland and on Stewart Island/Rakiura and nearby islands, New Zealand; disperses more widely at sea outside the breeding season, with occasional records reaching Australia.

Habitat

Unusually for a penguin, nests under dense coastal temperate rainforest, in caves, rock crevices, or among tree roots close to the shoreline, rather than on open beaches.

Migration

Birds disperse widely at sea after breeding and molting, returning to the same breeding sites in subsequent seasons.

Behavior

Comes ashore at dusk and departs before dawn during much of the breeding season, likely to avoid predators, making it a difficult species to observe; pairs are generally monogamous and reuse nest sites across years.

Voice

Gives loud, braying and trumpeting calls at colonies, particularly during arrivals, departures, and courtship displays.

Feeding

Forages at sea, diving to catch small fish, squid, and krill, sometimes traveling considerable distances from the colony to find food.

Nesting

Nests under forest cover, in caves, or among rocks and roots; typically lays two eggs, though usually only one chick survives to fledging, and both parents share incubation and chick-guarding duties.