Birds
Fiordland Penguin
Eudyptes pachyrhynchus · also called tawaki
Nesting among ferns and moss-covered trees in dense temperate rainforest, a Fiordland penguin breeds in a habitat almost no other penguin species shares, known locally by its Maori name, tawaki, along the remote southwestern coast of New Zealand.
Overview
The Fiordland penguin, Eudyptes pachyrhynchus, is a Vulnerable seabird native to coastal and ocean habitat along the southwestern coast of New Zealand’s South Island. Its unusual rainforest nesting habitat, distinctive yellow crest, and limited, narrow breeding range make it one of the more ecologically unusual and geographically restricted penguin species found anywhere in the world.
A penguin among the ferns
While nearly every other penguin species nests on open ground, ice, or bare rock, the Fiordland penguin has carved out a home in dense temperate rainforest, a genuinely unusual habitat choice that sets it apart from almost the entire rest of the penguin family.
Status
Vulnerable, with populations limited to a narrow stretch of coastline and declining due to introduced predators and changing ocean conditions.
Fiordland Penguin: common questions
Why does the Fiordland penguin nest in a rainforest?
This species nests in dense temperate rainforest, one of the few penguin species to breed among ferns and moss-covered trees rather than the bare rock, sand, or ice typical of most other penguins, reflecting its unusually temperate native range.
What is the Fiordland penguin's Maori name?
This species is also widely known by its Maori name, tawaki, used across much of its native range along the southwestern coast of New Zealand.
Does the Fiordland penguin breed in large colonies?
No, this species typically nests in small, loosely scattered groups within forest habitat, unlike the enormous, densely packed colonies formed by many other penguin species.
Why is the Fiordland penguin considered Vulnerable?
Populations remain limited to a narrow stretch of coastline and have declined in recent decades, driven by introduced predators and changing ocean conditions along its limited New Zealand range.