Erect Crested Penguin
or Scalter's Penguin, Auckland Islands Penguin, Big-crested Penguin
Scientific Name: Eudyptes sclateri
Size
Erect Crested penguins are about 28 inches (70cm) tall. They are about 9
pounds (4kg).
Where are they found?
They are found in the Australian and New Zealand seas. They breed in large
numbers mainly on Bounty and Antipodes Islands, smaller numbers breed on
Campbell and Auckland Islands.
What do they eat?
They feed on small fish and Krill.
Main Predators
The predators of the Erect Crested pengiun are not known as scientists
haven't yet found out.
Highlights
They are the only crested penguin with an erect crest: no part of the crest
comes below the birds eye level.
Two pale-blue eggs are laid in a muddy hollow among rocks or ledges close to
a high-water mark. One of the eggs almost invariably gets kicked out of the
nest and only one is incubated.
The chatter of these penguins in their dense rookeries is said to be
deafening and the stench almost unbearable. At suitable landing places there
is a constant stream of dirty penguins taking headers into the sea and
incoming clean birds diving a few yards offshore then shooting up on a wave
and clinging to the rocks with bill, flippers and feet.
Back To Top Of Page
Back To Main Menu