This little penguin/kororā isn’t shy, it’s sleeping. In New Zealand, we often call them “little blue penguins” for the colours of their dorsal feathers, although some can be more grey than blue. Little blues come ashore to sleep at night; this one was photographed at Totaranui Beach towards the end of the day.
The little blue is the most common penguin around New Zealand coasts, and it’s also found in southern Australia. The name “little blue penguin” is commonly used in New Zealand. Australians tend to call them fairy penguins.
The little penguin is the smallest penguin species. They weigh about a kilogram and grow to around a foot tall. Little blues are declining in New Zealand, but do well in predator-free environments. Good places to see little blues in the South Island are around Dunedin, Timaru and Oamaru.
You must be logged in to post a comment.