Western Rockhopper Penguin

Other animals

Two quick facts

• Population in the Falkland Islands dropped by 87% in 80 years
• Occasionally spotted in New Zealand’s Snares Islands

The western rockhopper penguin is a rare visitor to the New Zealand region, with sightings limited to the Snares Islands, where at least two individuals were recorded between 1985 and 2000. This species typically inhabits the southern Atlantic Ocean, with major populations found in the Falkland Islands (Malvinas) and southern Chile.

Unfortunately, western rockhopper penguins have suffered a dramatic population decline. On the Falkland Islands alone, numbers have dropped by an estimated 87%—from 1.6 million breeding pairs to just 200,000 over the past 80 years.

Learn more about western rockhopper penguins on New Zealand Birds Online.

Fun Facts

Top 3 Reasons to Love Them

1. Their stylish, spiky appearance.
2. They’re small but feisty.
3. They live in some of the toughest environments.