

2018 Concert coming up soon
Date posted: 15-Feb-2018
Our 2018 concert will feature an afternoon of light classics and jazz courtesy of the Auckland Ph..
Wetapunga talk coming soon
Date posted: 05-Feb-2018
For the Social on 19 March the speaker will be Ben Goodwin of Auckland Zoo, who will talk about t..
Rat caught and now takahe released from pens
Date posted: 28-Jan-2018
Thankfully DOC staff Andre de Graaf and Polly Hall and their assistants have trapped the rat whic..
Your Christmas Shopping for a Song
Date posted: 04-Dec-2017
Aka - The Grand Christmas Shopping Expedition to Tiritiri Matangi Island Shop
Dreading..
2018 Photo Comp opens for entries
Date posted: 27-Nov-2017
The 2018 Photo Competition is now open for entries. Click here (/2018-photo-competition-tiritiri-mat..
New reports on ruru nesting and Island conservation
Date posted: 02-Oct-2017
Two new reports have been added to the website.
The first gives details of a summer students..
2018 calendars now available
Date posted: 27-Sep-2017
Our latest calendar, beautifully illustrated with images taken on the Island, is now available fo..
Guided walks for photographers
Date posted: 21-Jun-2017
For a wonderful day of wildlife photography please join us on Tiritiri Matangi Island for a Ph..
Ferry discounts for Supporters
Date posted: 18-May-2017
Tiritiri Matangi Island, the perfect winter's day trip. The birds are at their best, warm up w..
More kiwi for the Island
Date posted: 04-Apr-2017
In 1993 and 1995, sixteen little spotted kiwi were released on Tiritiri Matangi Island. The ma..
Little Blue Penguin
Scientific name: |
Eudyptula minor |
Maori Name: |
Korora |
|
|
Conservation status: |
At risk - declining |
Mainland status: |
Widespread and locally common |
Size: | 40cm, 1.1kg |
Lifespan: |
Oldest recorded 19+ years in NZ |
Breeding: |
July - December |
Diet: |
Small fish, squid and octopus |
Now officially named the 'little penguin', this is the smallest of all penguins at just 40 cms. They are steely blue above and satin white below. The blueness of their backs makes the old and more popular name difficult to discard.
Blue penguins frequent the mainland coastal waters of both North and South Islands and many offshore islands around New Zealand. They spend all day out at sea fishing, often solitary, mostly about five metres below the surface. They feed on small fish, squid, and octopus when available. At night they come ashore and leave at dawn to go back fishing. When ashore they often wander as far as 500m inland and over 200m above sea level on some islands. On Tiritiri Matangi they have been seen at night up by the lighthouse.
The little blue penguin has a variety of calls, mewing notes (like a cat), loud screams, trumpeting and deep toned growls. They are most vocal at their breeding colonies and when they come ashore at dusk.
Blue penguins go through a complete body moult at the breeding site once their chicks have fledged. This moulting period lasts for 10-18 days and occurs some time between December and March. At this time the penguin cannot go to sea and therefore doesn't eat, having spent 2-3 weeks beforehand fattening up.
Find out more about the blue penguin at New Zealand Birds Online.
Photography by: Anne Mein © (top right) and Peter Craw © (bottom left)
References: Heather, B.D.; Robertson, H.A. 2000 The Field Guide to the Birds of New Zealand. Auckland, Viking.