Yellow Eyed Penguins
Scientific Name:  Megadyptes Antipodes  

Yellow Eyed penguins have a broad band of yellow feathers running around the eyes and extending back over the top the head.   They can grow to about 80 cm tall. They weigh between 5 and 8 kg. Chicks are covered with feathers that are all grey-brown in color. 

Nests are built in thick grass. They look like shallow bowls that are covered on the inside with leaves, grass and twigs. The male and female work together to build the nest. They are careful to build the nest away from another nest.

Two eggs are laid in the nest. Usually both eggs will hatch and both chicks are raised. It takes about 51 days for an egg to hatch. Each parent takes turns caring for the eggs until they hatch. They each will care for the egg for one or two days, then they trade places. After the egg hatches the parents continuing to take turns caring for the chick. This continues for 40 days. The parent that is not taking care of the chick is out to sea to gather food.  One-hundred six days after hatching, the chicks will molt. That means that the chick's feathers will fall out and adult feathers will grow in. Now, the chick will go to sea on its own to gather food.

Yellow Eyed penguins like to eat fish, but sometimes they eat squid.

There are several new predators that hunt the Yellow Eyed penguin for food. These predators include ferrets, cats, and dogs. Because of these predators, the population of Yellow Eyed penguins has been reduced so it is one of the rarest of all the penguins.