Little Penguin - Eudyptula Minor 

Distinguishing features

Smallest of all the penguins with blue grey backs and white fronts. 

Photos of Little penguins

Sub-species

Six sub-species have been recognised. However, the Little penguins are more often divided into two sub-species - Little, or Fairy penguins and the White-flippered penguin. White-flippered penguins are identified by a white stripe around the edges of the flippers and are found in New Zealand.

A recent study using DNA analysis, however, indicates there are actually only two discernible sub-species. The Australia and and Southern New Zealand penguins make up one sub-species and the Northern New Zealand adn Chatham Island birds the other. It has been suggested that the species evolved in New Zealand and then colonised Australia - later the Australian population re-colonised New Zealand's South Island.

Height & Weight

Little penguins stand 35 to 40cm high. Little penguins weigh typically around 1 kg with annual variations of up to 200g.

Breeding locations

Little penguins breed on the coasts of Southern Australia and Tasmania as well as in New Zealand and the Chatham Islands East of New Zealand. The total breeding population is uncertain but is estimated to be between  250,000 and 400,000 breeding pairs.

On the map, the main breeding areas of the six sub-species are marked in different colours. The yellow dot marks the White-flippered penguins (E. m. albosignata) on the Banks Peninsula; the pale blue dots on the South coast of Australia and Tasmania represent the breeding grounds of the Little Penguin (E. m. novaehollandiae); while the brown dot at the Chatham Islands to the East of New Zealand represents the Chatham Islands Little Penguin (E. m. chathamensis). The remaining three sub-species are E. m. minor, pink dots on the South of New Zealand; E. m. variabilis dark blue dots and (E. m. iredalei) purple dots around the North of New Zealand. 

Nesting behaviour

Little penguins dig out long (0.5 m) burrows to use as nests. Two eggs are normally laid and often two chicks are raised. Incubation takes 33 to 39 days with both parents sharing in shifts of 1 to 3 days. Chicks are guarded by one parent while the other is collecting food for up to 30 days. Creches are unusual. The chicks moult and go to sea when 50 to 65 days old.

Principal diet

Little penguins eat mainly fish and squid.

Alternative names

There is a lot of disagreement, even amongst biologists, as to the proper name for Little penguins.  Common names are: "Little Blue penguin", "Fairy penguin" and "Blue penguin".  The Maori name for the Little penguin is "Korora".

Further Information