Penguins are one of the cutest birds, but did you know there is an even cuter species of this bird? A small little penguin that looks very adorable and would definitely make you go “awww”. They are known as ‘Fairy or Little Blue Penguin’ and are small in size but huge in personality.
Fairy Penguin
The fairy penguin is the smallest penguin species, as per World Atlas they grow up to approximately 13-17 inches in height and weigh just over 1kg. While commonly known as little penguins, they are often called ‘fairy penguins’ in Australia and ‘little blue penguins’ or ‘blue penguins’ in New Zealand, owing to their distinctive blue plumage and small size.
Fairy penguins share physical traits with other penguin species but are much smaller. They maintain an upright posture and use their wings as flippers for swimming. They have cute heads, and are blue, with slate-grey ears that fade to white from the chin to the belly. Their webbed feet are pink with black soles, and they have dark grey beaks. In the wild, fairy penguins typically live for about 6.5 years, but they can live up to 25 years in captivity.
Small but mighty
Despite their small size, Little Blue Penguins are good swimmers. They can zip through the water at speeds of up to 6 km/h (about 4 mph) while hunting for small fish, squid, and krill. They spend their days at sea and return to shore at night under the cover of darkness to avoid predators.
Adding to their charm, Little Blue Penguins are known for their adorably raspy calls, often likened to a ‘grumpy duck’ These sounds help them attract mates and talk to each other in their colonies. Female penguins arrive at breeding colonies in June, where they meet males. Between June and August, females lay about two eggs, which hatch after approximately five weeks. They nest in rock crevices or dig long burrows to protect their young. Little penguins often mate for life, and both parents help to incubate the eggs and care for their young. Chicks are fed for five weeks before they leave the nest and become independent.
Little Blue Penguins inhabit the coasts of New Zealand and Southern Australia, with some sightings in Chile and South Africa. The global population is estimated to be between 350,000 and 600,000. While populations in New Zealand have gradually declined, in Australia, they are found in New South Wales, Jervis Bay Territory, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, and Western Australia, with the largest colony located in Tasmania, comprising approximately 190,000 breeding pairs.
Little Blue Penguins are not currently classified as an endangered species. However, their populations in Australia have remained relatively stable, while those in New Zealand have experienced declines. Spending a significant amount of time offshore, they are vulnerable to predators such as seals, sharks, and killer whales. On land, they face threats from large gulls and sea eagles. Human-related hazards, including road kills, oil spills, plastics, and fishing nets, also pose significant risks.
