Little Penguin

1. Smallest penguin species with a blue back and white belly

2. Blue flippers with a white trailing edge

3. Dark bill and pale grey or silvery eyes

Little Penguins spend most of their lives at sea, foraging for small fish, squid, and crustaceans. They are most active at dusk and dawn, returning to their burrows after sunset in groups to avoid predators. Nesting occurs in colonies, with both parents sharing incubation and chick-rearing duties. Breeding generally takes place from July to December, with pairs laying two eggs and chicks fledging at around eight weeks. These penguins undergo a complete annual moult, coming ashore for about two weeks while they replace their feathers and cannot enter the water due to the loss of waterproofing.

Little Penguins are found along the southern coastlines of Australia, including Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, and southern New South Wales. Major colonies are located on Phillip Island, Kangaroo Island, and around Sydney’s Northern Beaches. They nest in burrows, rocky crevices, or under vegetation, often forming large colonies in these coastal areas`.`