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Yellow-eyed Penguin Pictures - Photos

216 images Created 24 Aug 2009

The endangered Yellow-eyed Penguin (Megadyptes antipodes) is a rather unique species of penguin, native to New Zealand, and with a population of only about 4000. It is considered one of the world's rarest penguin species. It may be the most ancient of all living penguins.

While penguins are commonly seen in large colonies, the yellow-eyed penguin is a rather isolative creature. This piscivorous bird spends the majority of the day fishing in the ocean, then waddles alone onto shore shortly before sunset. Once ashore, it heads towards its nest tucked away in the forest or scrub, on slopes facing the sea.

"Hoiho" is the Maori name for this penguin, which translates into 'noise shouter'. It is common to hear this penguin throw back its head and cry out.

A close look at a picture of a yellow-eyed penguin shows a striking yellow eye band sweeping back from each yellow eye.

Common locations for viewing this endangered species are at Otago Peninsula, Stewart Island, and the Catlins, in the South Island of New Zealand.

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  • At the end of a long day at sea, an endangered yellow-eyed penguin returns to shore at Curio Bay, New Zealand.  This unique and rocky beach is an ancient petrified forest that dates back to the Jurassic era.  Before continuing inland to its nest, the solitary penguin lingers under the majestic Aurora Australis and Milky Way.  September 1st, 2013.
    Penguin under the Aurora and Milky W...jpg
  • After returning from sea at dusk, a pair of yellow-eyed penguins ascend the coastal cliff for shelter from the battering waves. Their quiet ritual of mutual preening helps reinforce pair bonds, as well as conditioning their feathers with preen oil from a gland found at the tip of their tails.<br />
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Despite rigorous conservation efforts, the endangered yellow-eyed penguin has dwindled to a mere 166 breeding pairs on the mainland of New Zealand.<br />
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Ongoing threats persist from both marine and terrestrial ecosystems, consisting of overfishing, bycatch in fishing nets, destruction of the sea floor via bottom-trawling, disease, loss of habitat on land, and climate change.
    Preening Yellow-eyed Penguins_H7C572...jpg
  • The awe-inspiring Milky Way bears semblance to a celestial flipper, reaching out to a solitary penguin standing on a rocky outcrop in the Curio Bay Fossil Forest.  With a declining population of less than 5000, the endangered Yellow-eyed Penguin is one of the world’s rarest penguins, and found only in New Zealand.<br />
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Protecting our night sky from light pollution is not simply for the sake of humans, but also for our wildlife.  Although research of penguins’ orientation at night is still in its infancy, scientists believe that birds rely not only magnetism but also the stars and celestial rotation.
    Yellow-eyed Penguin under the Milky ...jpg
  • After a long day at sea, a pair of adult yellow-eyed penguins bond while preening each other's feathers.
    Yellow-eyed Penguins Preening 10_63A...jpg
  • After foraging out in the Pacific Ocean, an endangered yellow-eyed penguin comes ashore to dry its wet feathers on an ancient petrified forest at Curio Bay, New Zealand.  The tide pools reflect the green glow of a shooting star and the radiance of the Aurora Australis, while the Milky Way stretches above.<br />
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Offshore foraging trips will draw the yellow-eyed penguin up to 15 miles away from land, while evening trips can range up to 4 miles.  Clear skies expose celestial cues by which even non-migratory birds calibrate their magnetic compass.  This compass is used in conjunction with visual landmarks as well as olfactory and acoustic cues to help the penguin to navigate.
    Celestial Penguin_H7C4164.jpg
  • Yellow-eyed Penguin, Curio Bay, New Zealand
    Yellow-eyed Penguin 97_5726.jpg
  • A yellow-eyed penguin eager to return to its coastal nest leads an ever growing trail of footprints in the wet sand.
    Yellow-eyed Penguin Footprints 06_63...jpg
  • A streaky comb-over and yellow goggles...a timeless portrait of an endangered Yellow-eyed Penguin, hiding amongst the tall grass, Moeraki, New Zealand
    Yellow-eyed Penguin Portrait 135_979...jpg
  • Yellow-eyed Penguin, Curio Bay, New Zealand
    Yellow-eyed Penguin 54_5668.jpg
  • Perched at the edge of a coastal cliff, a pair of adult yellow-eyed penguins rest while the ocean ebbs and flows.
    Yellow-eyed Penguin 240_H7C5736.jpg
  • The rush of the ocean collides against the base of the cliff, as a family of endangered yellow-eyed penguins reunite.
    Clifftop Yellow-eyed Penguins 01_H7C...jpg
  • Yellow-eyed Penguin, endangered, New Zealand
    Yellow-eyed Penguin 141_9596.jpg
  • Yellow-eyed Penguin, Curio Bay, New Zealand
    Yellow-eyed Penguin 162_H7C4248.jpg
  • A yellow-eyed Penguin throws its flippers back and gives its characteristic high-pitched bray, Curio Bay, South Island, New Zealand
    Yellow-eyed Penguin_062A9770.jpg
  • An adult yellow-eyed penguin disciplines a clingy adolescent penguin, South Island, New Zealand
    Yellow-eyed Penguin 200_63A5564.jpg
  • Yellow-eyed Penguin, Curio Bay, New Zealand
    Yellow-eyed Penguin 78_6649.jpg
  • "The fish was THIIIIISSSSS big!"  At the end of a long day at sea, an endangered yellow-eyed penguin follows its daily routine of air-drying its feathers with outstretched flippers.
    Yellow-eyed Penguin 210_63A4816.jpg
  • Yellow-eyed penguin, adult and nest at a nest in the flax, Catlins, New Zealand
    Yellow-eyed Penguin 116_2024.jpg
  • Yellow-eyed Penguin, Curio Bay, New Zealand
    Yellow-eyed Penguin 106_6491.jpg
  • A pair of endangered yellow-eyed penguins take turns preening one another, high atop a cliff along the coast of New Zealand.
    Yellow-eyed Penguin 230_63A5355.jpg
  • Yellow-eyed Penguin, Curio Bay, New Zealand
    Yellow-eyed Penguin 148_H7C4106.jpg
  • Yellow-eyed Penguin, Catlins, New Zealand
    Yellow-eyed Penguin 35_9533.jpg
  • Yellow-eyed Penguin, endangered, New Zealand
    Yellow-eyed Penguin 142_9615.jpg
  • Most of its day is spent out at sea hunting for fish, except for when the endangered yellow-eyed penguin returns to shore for a quick preening and itch-and-scratch session, before finally heading into the forest to its nest.  Curio Bay, New Zealand
    Yellow-eyed Penguin 44_5327.jpg
  • Yellow-eyed Penguin, Stewart Island, New Zealand
    Yellow-eyed Penguin 81_7090.jpg
  • Yellow-eyed Penguin, Curio Bay, New Zealand
    Yellow-eyed Penguin 30_9407.jpg
  • Yellow-eyed Penguin, Curio Bay, New Zealand
    Yellow-eyed Penguin 155_H7C3847.jpg
  • Penguins can fly!  A cliff-jumping Yellow-eyed penguin, Stewart Island, New Zealand
    Yellow-eyed Penguin 124_2136.jpg
  • Yellow-eyed Penguin, parent feeding juvenile, New Zealand
    Yellow-eyed Penguin 40_3766.jpg
  • Yellow-eyed Penguin, Otago Peninsula, New Zealand
    Yellow-eyed Penguin 11.jpg
  • Yellow-eyed Penguin, Curio Bay, New Zealand
    Yellow-eyed Penguin 60_5949.jpg
  • Yellow-eyed Penguin, Curio Bay, New Zealand
    Yellow-eyed Penguin 150_H7C4499.jpg
  • Yellow-eyed Penguin, Curio Bay, New Zealand
    Yellow-eyed Penguin 56_5734.jpg
  • Yellow-eyed Penguin sitting on nest, nicely framed by blades of grass, Catlins, New Zealand
    Yellow-eyed Penguin 118_2035.jpg
  • Yellow-eyed Penguin in a bed of kelp, Stewart Island, New Zealand
    Yellow-eyed Penguin 48_5524.jpg
  • Yellow-eyed Penguin portrait, Stewart Island, New Zealand
    Yellow-eyed Penguin 71_6171.jpg
  • Endangered Yellow-eyed Penguin, Moeraki, New Zealand
    Yellow-eyed Penguin 139_9879.jpg
  • A trio of Yellow-eyed Penguins sitting around in the rain, Stewart Island, New Zealand
    Yellow-eyed Penguin 146_H7C4536.jpg
  • Yellow-eyed Penguins in the rain, Stewart Island, New Zealand
    Yellow-eyed Penguin 145_H7C4545.jpg
  • Yellow-eyed Penguin, Stewart Island, New Zealand
    Yellow-eyed Penguin 147_H7C4251.jpg
  • Endangered Yellow-eyed Penguin, hiding amongst the tall grass, Moeraki, New Zealand
    Yellow-eyed Penguin 136_9800.jpg
  • A Yellow-eyed Penguin jumps into the incoming wave as it heads back out to sea, at Stewart Island, New Zealand
    Yellow-eyed Penguin 59_5947.jpg
  • Yellow-eyed Penguin, Curio Bay, New Zealand
    Yellow-eyed Penguin 73_6275.jpg
  • Portrait of a Yellow-eyed Penguin in a staring contest, New Zealand
    Yellow-eyed Penguin Portrait 134_979...jpg
  • A molting Yellow-eyed Penguin with a bill full of feathers, New Zealand
    Molting Yellow-eyed Penguin 01.jpg
  • Yellow-eyed Penguin, endangered, New Zealand
    Yellow-eyed Penguin 143_9612.jpg
  • Yellow-eyed Penguin, Curio Bay, New Zealand
    Yellow-eyed Penguin 107_6727.jpg
  • A Yellow-eyed Penguin surfaces off the coast of Stewart Island, New Zealand
    Yellow-eyed Penguin 58_5920.jpg
  • A kiss?  A peck?  Endangered yellow-eyed penguins socialize after a long day at sea, on the petrified forest that makes up the unique coastline at Curio Bay, Catlins, New Zealand
    Yellow-eyed Penguin 93_7395.jpg
  • Yellow-eyed Penguin, Curio Bay, New Zealand
    Yellow-eyed Penguin 99_5300.jpg
  • Yellow-eyed Penguin, Curio Bay, New Zealand
    Yellow-eyed Penguin 152_H7C3799.jpg
  • Yellow-eyed Penguin, Curio Bay, New Zealand
    Yellow-eyed Penguin 154_H7C3803.jpg
  • Yellow-eyed Penguin, Otago Peninsula, New Zealand
    Yellow-eyed Penguin 100_6508.jpg
  • Yellow-eyed Penguin in the surf, Stewart Island, New Zealand
    Yellow-eyed Penguin 149_H7C4385.jpg
  • Yellow-eyed penguin, Catlins, New Zealand
    Yellow-eyed Penguin 125_2244.jpg
  • Yellow-eyed Penguin, Curio Bay, New Zealand
    Yellow-eyed Penguin 74_6291.jpg
  • Yellow-eyed Penguin, Te Rere Scientific Reserve, New Zealand
    Yellow-eyed Penguin 140_1988.jpg
  • Yellow-eyed Penguin, Curio Bay, New Zealand
    Yellow-eyed Penguin 83_7236.jpg
  • Yellow-eyed Penguin, Curio Bay, New Zealand
    Yellow-eyed Penguin 151_H7C3941.jpg
  • Yellow-eyed Penguin 121_1866.jpg
  • Yellow-Eyed Penguins AND New Zealand Fur Seals share tight quarters along the many small islands at Stewart Island.
    Yellow-eyed Penguins and NZ Fur Seal...jpg
  • Yellow-eyed Penguin, Curio Bay, New Zealand
    Yellow-eyed Penguin 156_H7C3960.jpg
  • Yellow-eyed Penguin, Curio Bay, New Zealand
    Yellow-eyed Penguin 157_H7C3971.jpg
  • Yellow-eyed Penguin, Curio Bay, New Zealand
    Yellow-eyed Penguin 79_6943.jpg
  • Endangered Yellow-eyed Penguin, hiding amongst the tall grass, Moeraki, New Zealand
    Yellow-eyed Penguin 132_9789.jpg
  • Yellow-eyed Penguin in the surf, Stewart Island, New Zealand
    Yellow-eyed Penguin 164_H7C4388.jpg
  • Yellow-eyed Penguin 128_2367.jpg
  • Yellow-eyed Penguin, Curio Bay, New Zealand
    Yellow-eyed Penguin 50_5581.jpg
  • Moulting Yellow-eyed Penguin, Moeraki, New Zealand
    Yellow-eyed Penguin 130_9717.jpg
  • Yellow-eyed Penguin Nesting Area Sign, New Zealand
    Yellow-eyed Penguin Nesting Sign_605...jpg
  • Yellow-eyed Penguin, Curio Bay, New Zealand
    Yellow-eyed Penguin 86_7270.jpg
  • Yellow-eyed Penguin, Curio Bay, New Zealand
    Yellow-eyed Penguin 87_7272.jpg
  • Endangered Yellow-eyed Penguin, Moeraki, New Zealand
    Yellow-eyed Penguin 129_9638.jpg
  • Yellow-eyed Penguin, Te Rere Scientific Reserve, New Zealand
    Yellow-eyed Penguin 133_2042.jpg
  • Yellow-eyed Penguin, Curio Bay, New Zealand
    Yellow-eyed Penguin 61_5990.jpg
  • Yellow-eyed Penguin, Curio Bay, New Zealand
    Yellow-eyed Penguin 89_7281.jpg
  • Yellow-eyed Penguin, Curio Bay, New Zealand
    Yellow-eyed Penguin 47_5485.jpg
  • footprints along the beach of a Yellow-eyed Penguin, New Zealand
    Yellow-eyed Penguin Footprints 01.jpg
  • Yellow-eyed Penguin, Curio Bay, New Zealand
    Yellow-eyed Penguin 118_5629.jpg
  • Yellow-eyed Penguin, Curio Bay, New Zealand
    Yellow-eyed Penguin 95_6810.jpg
  • Yellow-eyed Penguin, Otago Peninsula, New Zealand
    Yellow-eyed Penguin 13.jpg
  • Yellow-eyed Penguin, Otago Peninsula, New Zealand
    Yellow-eyed Penguin 10.jpg
  • Yellow-eyed Penguin, Curio Bay, New Zealand
    Yellow-eyed Penguin 19_9267.jpg
  • Yellow-eyed Penguin, Curio Bay, New Zealand
    Yellow-eyed Penguin 160_H7C4302.jpg
  • Yellow-eyed Penguin, Curio Bay, New Zealand
    Yellow-eyed Penguin 163_H7C4297.jpg
  • Yellow-eyed Penguin, Curio Bay, New Zealand
    Yellow-eyed Penguin 82_7221.jpg
  • Yellow-eyed Penguin, Otago Peninsula, New Zealand
    Yellow-eyed Penguin 103_9464.jpg
  • Yellow-eyed Penguin, Curio Bay, New Zealand
    Yellow-eyed Penguin 167_H7C4483.jpg
  • Yellow-eyed Penguin, Curio Bay, New Zealand
    Yellow-eyed Penguin 158_H7C3808.jpg
  • Yellow-eyed Penguin, Curio Bay, New Zealand
    Yellow-eyed Penguin 159_H7C3814.jpg
  • Yellow-eyed Penguin, Otago Peninsula, New Zealand
    Yellow-eyed Penguin 02.jpg
  • Yellow-eyed Penguin, Curio Bay, New Zealand
    Yellow-eyed Penguin 29_9367 slnw.jpg
  • Yellow-eyed Penguin, Curio Bay, New Zealand
    Yellow-eyed Penguin 76_6432.jpg
  • Yellow-eyed Penguin, Curio Bay, New Zealand
    Yellow-eyed Penguin 20_9269.jpg
  • Yellow-eyed Penguin, Curio Bay, New Zealand
    Yellow-eyed Penguin 91_7297.jpg
  • Yellow-eyed Penguin, Curio Bay, New Zealand
    Yellow-eyed Penguin 166_H7C4431.jpg
  • Yellow-eyed Penguin, Curio Bay, New Zealand
    Yellow-eyed Penguin 165_H7C4267.jpg
  • Yellow-eyed Penguin, Curio Bay, New Zealand
    Yellow-eyed Penguin 84_7251.jpg
  • Yellow-eyed penguin, Otago Peninsula, New Zealand
    Yellow-Eyed Penguin 03.jpg
  • Yellow-eyed penguin, Otago Peninsula, New Zealand
    Yellow-eyed Penguin 07.jpg
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