All about Erect Crested Penguins
Erect-crested Penguins live and breed on four small islands south of New Zealand. The Erect-crested penguins tend to be very sociable and live in huge colonies close to Rockhopper Penguins. What makes these penguins different from the other four types of crested penguins is their spiky feathers which grow from the top of their bills past their heads. Erect-cresteds can raise and lower these feathers, which none of the other cresteds can do. Erect-crested nest in shallow holes in the ground. They use plant material to line the nests when they can find it. These penguins almost always lay two eggs, however only one chick will survive.
All About Fiorland Crested Penguins
Fiorland Penguins live and breed on the western and south western coastlines of the South Island of New Zealand. Therefore these penguins live in what is known as the temperate rainforest. Like other crested penguins, Fiorlands also have the spiky feathers going from the top of their bills and go above their heads. Another feature that makes these penguins different from other cresteds is the white streaks of feathers on their cheeks. Fiorlands tend to be very shy and timid. They make their nests in soft ground around thick vegetation far away from other nests. Fiorlands most always lay two eggs. The mom and dad penguins take turns keeping the eggs warm. When the eggs hatch, only one of the chicks will survive and the male penguin stays with the chick for two to three weeks. Sometimes the remaining chick is left alone while the parents hunt for food. When the chick is around 75 days old it will get its adult feathers and leave the nest to go to sea. Little else is known about the breeding behaviors due to the thick vegetation of the rainforest.
All About Snares Crested Penguins
The Snares Crested Penguins or Snares Island Penguins only live and breed on Snares Island off the coast of South Island, New Zealand. Snares Island is a marine sanctuary where no humans are allowed to go. What separates these penguins from other crested penguins is that they have a heavier bill with white around the bottom of their bills and their chests start from the bottom of the bill and go around to the back to their necks. These penguins make their nests out of shallow holes in the ground lined with plant material. These penguins almost always lay two eggs, however only one chick will survive. The eggs are kept warm by both parents for 31-73 days. When the eggs hatch the father penguin cares for the chicks for about 3 weeks. When Snares chicks are between 3-4 weeks old they form crèche with other chicks. Both parents will continue to feed their chick until the chick is around 75 days old. At this point the chick will leave the crèche and go to sea to find krill, squid, and fish to feed on to survive. The Snares crested Penguin measures about 26 inches tall and weigh between 9-11 pounds.
All About Rockhopper Penguins
Rockhopper Penguins live and breed on the islands in the Antarctic region. The Rockhopper Penguin got its name because of the way they hop over rocks and crevices on the shores in the Antarctic region. These penguins are different from other crested penguins because their hair tends to be more spiky and they are the smallest of the crested penguins. Rockhoppers are around 18-23 inches tall and weigh approximately 5 to 8 pounds. These penguins make their nests by digging a small hole in the ground and lining it with dry grasses. Rockhoppers almost always lay two eggs. The first egg is smaller than the second and the first almost always gets eaten by predators. Both parents guard the eggs and keep them warm for around 32-34 days. The father penguin stays with the chick after the egg hatches, while the mother penguin searches for food to feed the new baby. When the chick is about 4 weeks old it leaves the nest to join crèche with other chicks. When the chicks are around 65-72 days old they leave the crèche and go to sea to fend for themselves. These penguins also feed on krill, fish, and squid to survive. Rockhoppers tend to be very loud, noisy, and feisty penguins. They are very aggressive and will attack anything that bothers them.
All About Macaroni Penguins
Macaroni Penguins live and breed on the sub-Antarctic Islands as well as on small islands on the southern tips of South America and South Africa. What makes these penguins different from the other types of crested penguins is that the Macaroni Penguin has solid black feathers on their faces and under their chins and throats. Macaroni Penguins got their name from mid-18th century English explorers who thought that this penguin was particularly fancy, so they named this penguin the Macaroni Penguin, because that was what a fashionable man of that time period was called. These penguins stand about 28 inches tall and weigh approximately between 11-13 pounds. Macaronis make their nests by scraping shallow holes in mud or gravel around rocks. These penguins almost always lay two eggs, however the first egg is smaller than the second egg and the first is much less likely to hatch. Both penguin parents share the responsibility of keeping the eggs warm and safe. The eggs will hatch after about 33-37 days. The father penguin will care for the new chicks for around 23-25 days, while the mother penguin delivers the food to the new babies. After the 23-25 days the chicks then leave the nest to join the crèche with the other chicks. When the chicks are about 60-70 days old they will get their adult feathers and leave the crèche to go out to sea to search for krill to survive.
All About Royal Penguins
Royal Penguins live and breed only located on Macquarie Island, south of Australia. Royal Penguins are scattered all over this island in small colonies. The Royal Penguin is the largest of the crested penguins, besides the Macaroni Penguin. The real difference is that have white feathers on on their cheeks, under their chins, and on their throats. Royal Penguins make their nests by digging a shallow hole in the sand or in a weeded area lined with stones and plant material. Royal Penguins almost always lay two eggs, however only one chick will survive. The eggs are kept warm and protected by both parents for about 35 days until the egg hatches. The father penguin will care for the new chicks for around 23-25 days, while the mother penguin delivers the food to the new babies. After the 23-25 days the chicks then leave the nest to join the crèche with the other chicks. When the chicks are about 60-70 days old they will get their adult feathers and leave the crèche to go out to sea to search for krill and fish to survive. The female is often smaller than the male Royal. The Royal Penguin stands approximately 28 inches tall and weighs about 10-12 pounds.