Snares Penguin

1. Bright yellow eyebrow stripe extending into a bushy crest

2. Robust orange bill with pink skin at the base

3. Distinctive black and white "tuxedo" plumage

Snares Penguins are monogamous, returning to the same nesting site year after year. They lay two eggs but usually raise only one chick. These penguins are excellent divers, foraging up to 120 meters deep for food. Commercial fishing in nearby waters poses a potential threat by reducing their food supply of main prey species such as red cod, arrow squid and red bait. Snares crested penguins are naturally preyed upon by New Zealand fur seals and sea lions and eggs and young chicks may be preyed upon by some seabird species such as red-billed gulls and Subantarctic skuas.

Snares Penguins are homebodies, rarely straying from their namesake Snares Islands off the southern coast of the South Island, though there are some records of vagrant birds recorded in other islands. They nest in dense colonies under Olearia or Brachyglottis forest cover or on coastal rocks. Your best bet for spotting them is during breeding season (September to February) when they're most active on land. Look for them waddling to and from the sea at dawn and dusk. Tip: Join a guided subantarctic island tour for the best chance of seeing these unique birds.

Snares Penguins have inhabited their islands for centuries. They play a crucial role in the ecosystem of the Snares Islands. Their unique status makes them an important subject for conservation research in New Zealand.