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Little Penguin

Eudyptula minor (Forster, JR 1781)

Related taxa:
Life history data
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Species distribution
Geographical range
Value: Australasia: s Australia and North, South, Stewart and Chatham is. (e of South I.; New Zealand)
Source: IOC 12.1
Value: southern Australia and North, South, Stewart and Chatham islands (east of South Island; New Zealand)
Source: Clements, version 2024
Maximum latitude of breeding range
Value: -30.49
Units: degrees
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Minimum latitude of breeding range
Value: -47.47
Units: degrees
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Centroid latitude
Value: -40.8
Units: degrees
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Value: -39.1
Units: degrees
Source: Bird et al. 2020
Centroid longitude
Value: 162.19
Units: degrees
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Long-distance dispersal
Value: 1: Yes
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Nomadic, erratic, irruptive, wandering
Value: 1: Yes
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Breeding restricted to island(s)
Value: 0
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Latitudinal range
Value: Temperate
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Migration strategy
Value: Partially migratory
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Value: Not a Migrant
Source: Bird et al. 2020
Total range size
Value: 6870000
Units: km2
Source: Bird et al. 2020
Value: 365250.03
Units: km2
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Value: > 50000
Units: km2
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Realm
Value: Australian, New Zealand & islands
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Value: Australian
Source: Pigot et al. 2020
Sedentary, largely does not migrate
Value: 1: Yes
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Range and population size
Has restricted range?
Value: N
Source: Birdlife's Worldbird Database
Habitat
Altitude
Value:
Range: 0 - 50
Units: m
Source: Bird et al. 2020
Value:
Range: 0 - 50
Units: m
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Altitude range
Value: 50
Units: m
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Number of major habitats used
Value: 3
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Habitat density (1-3)
Value: Open habitats
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Habitat description
Value: Marine
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Value: Marine
Source: Bird et al. 2020
Primary lifestyle
Value: DIURNAL
Source: Bird et al. 2020
Value: Terrestrial
Source: Bird et al. 2020
First habitat
Value: SE: Open sea, pelagic
Units: rank
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Second habitat
Value: C: Sea coast, mangrove, estuary, bays, shores, fjords (only sea coast), coastal dune
Units: rank
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Third habitat
Value: R: Rocky areas, cliffs, outcrop, inselberg, koppi, escarpment
Units: rank
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Food and feeding habits
Number of major food types consumed
Value: 2
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Source used for diet data
Value: 1
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Main food source
Value: Fish
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Value: VertFishScav
Source: Bird et al. 2020
Ecological Specialization Index
Value: 1.22185
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Foraging niche
Value: Aquatic dive
Source: Pigot et al. 2020
Trophic level
Value: Carnivore
Source: Pigot et al. 2020
Value: Carnivore
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Trophic niche
Value: Aquatic predator
Source: Pigot et al. 2020
Value: Aquatic predator
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Weight of fish in diet
Value: 9
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Weight of fruits in diet
Value: 0
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Weight of invertebrates in diet
Value: 1
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Weight of land vertebrates in diet
Value: 0
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Weight of miscellaneous in diet
Value: 0
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Weight of nectar in diet
Value: 0
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Weight of plant material in diet
Value: 0
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Weight of scavenging in diet
Value: 0
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Weight of seeds in diet
Value: 0
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Sum of the weighted diets
Value: 10
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Body measurements
Bill depth (sex unknown)
Value: 1.37129
Range: 1.19 - 1.49
Units: cm
Sample: 7
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Bill length (females) - Culmen
Value: 3.45
Units: cm
Source: Lisleland et al. 2007
Bill length (males) - Culmen
Value: 3.57
Units: cm
Source: Lisleland et al. 2007
Bill length (sex unknown) - Nares to tip
Value: 2.355
Range: 2.07 - 2.79
Units: cm
Sample: 4
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Bill length (sex unknown) - Culmen
Value: 4.75114
Range: 4.35 - 5.149
Units: cm
Sample: 7
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Bill width (sex unknown)
Value: 0.690714
Range: 0.64 - 0.83
Units: cm
Sample: 7
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Body mass
Value: 1107.82
Units: g
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Value: 1157.295833
Range: 1063.75 - 1500
Units: g
Source: Myhrvold et al. 2015
Value: 1107.82
Units: grams
Source: Bird et al. 2020
Value: 1321.67
Units: g
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Body mass (females)
Value:
Range: 550 - 2100
Units: g
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Value: 1085.2
Range: 1063.75 - 1147.625
Units: g
Source: Myhrvold et al. 2015
Value: 1085.2
Units: grams
Source: Lisleland et al. 2007
Body mass (males)
Value: 1206.875
Range: 1177.25 - 1243.7
Units: g
Source: Myhrvold et al. 2015
Value: 1243.7
Units: grams
Source: Lisleland et al. 2007
Value:
Range: 550 - 2130
Units: g
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Body mass (sex unknown)
Value:
Range: 500 - 2100
Units: g
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Value: 1136
Range: 631.9 - 1500
Units: g
Source: Myhrvold et al. 2015
Snout-to-vent length (adults)
Value: 42.5
Range: 42.5 - 42.5
Units: cm
Source: Myhrvold et al. 2015
Tail length (sex unknown)
Value: 2.70333
Range: 2.12 - 4
Units: cm
Sample: 6
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Tarsus length (females)
Value: 1.9
Units: cm
Source: Lisleland et al. 2007
Tarsus length (males)
Value: 1.84
Units: cm
Source: Lisleland et al. 2007
Tarsus length (sex unknown)
Value: 2.213
Range: 1.716 - 2.64
Units: cm
Sample: 6
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Wing length (females)
Value: 11.7
Units: cm
Source: Lisleland et al. 2007
Hand-Wing Index (unknown)
Value: 63.45
Range: 62 - 64.5
Units: %
Sample: 4
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Kipps distance (unknown)
Value: 0.38
Range: 0.24 - 0.5
Units: cm
Sample: 4
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Wing length (males)
Value: 11.81
Units: cm
Source: Lisleland et al. 2007
Wing length (unknown) - secondary1
Value: 6.345
Range: 6.2 - 6.45
Units: cm
Sample: 4
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Wing length (sex unknown)
Value: 6.725
Range: 6.6 - 6.8
Units: cm
Sample: 4
Source: Tobias et al. 2021
Nest characteristics
Description of physical nest (shape, etc.)
Value: burrow (in ground; also ground cavities)
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Eggs
Egg mass
Value: 52
Units: grams
Source: Lisleland et al. 2007
Value: 52
Range: 52 - 55
Units: g
Source: Myhrvold et al. 2015
Reproduction
Age at first breeding
Value: 2.5
Units: years
Source: Bird et al. 2020
Value: 2.691527806
Units: years
Source: Bird et al. 2020
Age at first breeding (females)
Value: 2
Range: 2 - 2
Units: years
Source: Myhrvold et al. 2015
Clutch size
Value: 2
Source: Lisleland et al. 2007
Value: 2
Range: 2 - 2
Units: n
Source: Myhrvold et al. 2015
Value: 2
Units: n
Source: Bird et al. 2020
Value:
Range: 2 - 2
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Colonial species
Value: 1: Yes
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Mating displays
Value: ground displays only, including displays on trees and bushes
Source: Lisleland et al. 2007
Fledging period
Value: 45.5
Range: 36 - 55
Units: days
Source: Myhrvold et al. 2015
Value:
Range: 50 - 55
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Number of breeding attempts per year
Value:
Range: 1 - 2
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Value: 1.5
Range: 1.5 - 1.5
Units: n/year
Source: Myhrvold et al. 2015
Sex of bird sitting on eggs/nest
Value: Both
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Incubation period
Value:
Range: 33 - 44
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Value: 38
Range: 37 - 39
Units: days
Source: Myhrvold et al. 2015
Leks
Value: 0: No
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
How nests are connected to supporting objects
Value: Basal
Source: Chia et al. 2023
Location where nests are constructed
Value: Underground
Source: Chia et al. 2023
Value: Ground
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Nest has an 'artificial' location
Value: yes
Source: Sheard et al. 2024
Nest has an 'earth hole' location
Value: yes
Source: Sheard et al. 2024
Nest has a 'ground' location
Value: yes
Source: Sheard et al. 2024
Nest has a 'rock' location
Value: no
Source: Sheard et al. 2024
Nest has a 'tree hole' location
Value: no
Source: Sheard et al. 2024
Nest has a 'vegetation' location
Value: no
Source: Sheard et al. 2024
Nest has a 'water' location
Value: no
Source: Sheard et al. 2024
Nest structure
Value: Primary Cavity; Second Cavity
Source: Chia et al. 2023
Nest has a 'cavity' structure
Value: no
Source: Sheard et al. 2024
Nest has a 'clearing' structure
Value: no
Source: Sheard et al. 2024
Nest has a 'cup' structure
Value: no
Source: Sheard et al. 2024
Nest has a 'dome' structure
Value: no
Source: Sheard et al. 2024
Nest has a 'dome-and-tube' structure
Value: no
Source: Sheard et al. 2024
Nest has an 'excavation' structure
Value: yes
Source: Sheard et al. 2024
Nest has a 'excavation-with-nest' structure
Value: no
Source: Sheard et al. 2024
Nest has a 'mound' structure
Value: no
Source: Sheard et al. 2024
Nest has a 'none' structure
Value: yes
Source: Sheard et al. 2024
Nest has a 'platform' structure
Value: no
Source: Sheard et al. 2024
Nest has a 'ring' structure
Value: no
Source: Sheard et al. 2024
Nest has a 'scrape' structure
Value: no
Source: Sheard et al. 2024
Parasitic breeding
Value: False
Source: Chia et al. 2023
Yearly productivity per pair
Value:
Range: 1.18 - 1.71
Units: n young
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Reproductive system
Value: monogamy (<5% polygyny)
Source: Lisleland et al. 2007
Survival
Adult annual survival rate
Value: 0.855245301
Units: annual rate
Source: Bird et al. 2020
Value: 83
Units: annual rate
Source: Bird et al. 2020
Average generation length (years)
Value: 7.87102974
Range: 7.814187506 - 8.599766412
Units: years
Source: Bird et al. 2020
Value: 8.3
Units: years
Source: Birdlife 2024
Maximum age
Value: 24.34843511
Units: years
Source: Bird et al. 2020
Value: 24.4
Units: years
Source: Bird et al. 2020
Value: 16.91666667
Range: 11.08333333 - 16.91666667
Units: years
Source: Myhrvold et al. 2015
Average survival
Value: 14
Units: years
Source: Myhrvold et al. 2015
Breeding success (% nests fledging young)
Value:
Range: 16 - 66.2
Units: percent
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Population decline over 10 years
Value: 0%
Range: 0% - 0%
Units: percent
Source: Bird et al. 2020
Population decline over 3 generation
Value: 0%
Range: 0% - 0%
Units: percent
Source: Bird et al. 2020
Social behaviour
Pairs and family groups
Value: 0: No
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Social flocks
Value: 0: No
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Pairs and family groups
Value: 0: No
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Solitary
Value: 0: No
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
Behaviour
Inability to fly
Value: Yes
Source: Sekercioglu et al. 2025
References

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