Head to head
Eastern Rockhopper Penguin vs Southern Rockhopper Penguin
Both are rockhopper penguins that climb cliffs by hopping rather than walking, but they breed on entirely separate island groups.
| Eastern Rockhopper Penguin | Southern Rockhopper Penguin | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Eudyptes filholi | Eudyptes chrysocome |
| Conservation status | Vulnerable | Vulnerable |
| Breeding range | Sub-Antarctic islands, southern Indian Ocean | Falklands, southern South America, south of New Zealand/Australia |
| Recognized as a distinct species | Following genetic and morphological study | Type species of the rockhopper group |
| Population trend | Decreasing | Decreasing, 30%+ over three generations |
| Main threat | Changing ocean conditions | Ocean warming, fishing, oil pollution, introduced predators |
| Climbing style | Hops up cliffs with both feet together | Hops up cliffs with both feet together |
| Diet | Krill, small fish, squid | Krill, small fish, squid |
Eastern Rockhopper Penguin vs Southern Rockhopper Penguin: common questions
Why are the eastern and southern rockhopper penguins considered separate species?
Genetic and morphological study found enough consistent differences between rockhopper populations in different ocean basins to split them into distinct species, with the eastern rockhopper penguin confined to the southern Indian Ocean and the southern rockhopper penguin found around the Falklands, southern South America, and the New Zealand and Australian subantarctic.
Are both rockhopper species declining?
Yes, both are classified as Vulnerable, with population declines linked to changing ocean conditions affecting the krill, fish, and squid they depend on across their respective Southern Ocean ranges.
Do the eastern and southern rockhopper penguins look different?
They are very similar in appearance, both sharing the spiky yellow crest and hopping climbing style typical of all rockhopper penguins, with range being the clearest way to tell which population a bird belongs to.