A typical adult little penguin goes through the same cycle every year; from building a nest to raising chicks and moulting. Click on the months below or the arrows to learn what happens in each stage.
The penguins spend more time in the colony, building or repairing their nests and carefully preparing them for the mating season.
At the start of the breeding season, the mating process begins!
Once little penguins find a mate, they are usually monogamous, staying together for life – though the occasional penguin divorce does happen! When pairs reunite, they recognise each other by their distinct braying calls.
The penguins lay two eggs per clutch. Both parents share incubation duties, taking turns to keep the eggs warm for around 36 days until they hatch.
When chicks hatch, they weigh around 45 grams, and in just five weeks, they grow to around 1kg!
For the first 2-3 weeks, the parents take turns staying in the burrow to guard the chicks while the other hunts. Eventually, both parents will head out to sea daily, returning each night to feed their chicks.
Little penguin chicks fledge at around 8 weeks old, shedding their downy feathers for a waterproof adult coat. The last chicks from the season can fledge as late as March.
Little penguins are one of four species of penguin that are able to double brood. This means that they may breed twice in one year.
If conditions are right, early-season breeders may start the process again after their first chicks have fledged. Whether breeding once or twice, all penguins finish the season around the same time.
As the chicks fledge, they leave the nest to spend time at sea, not returning for 6-12 months. They get no training from their parents and must learn for themselves how to swim, fish, and navigate the ocean.
In preparation for the moulting season, the penguins eat an abundance of food, gaining almost half of their body weight. This helps them survive the moulting season, during which they can’t go to sea to feed.
The penguins’ moult is called a catastrophic moult because they grow an entire new set of feathers at once. Moulting takes around 18 days, and during this time, they will replace all 10,000 feathers.
After moulting, the penguins spend plenty of time in the ocean. They have a feast, restoring their body weight to what it once was.
Between trips to sea, they continue to return to the colony to look after their nests.
The little penguin’s Latin name is Eudyptula minor. Eudyptula means ‘good little diver’ – and they certainly live up to their name!
On hunting days, penguins spend the entire day out in the ocean. They leave their burrows in the early hours of the morning and return at sunset. They’re expert swimmers, diving up to 1,500 times a day and reaching depths of up to 70 metres. Their diet includes small schooling fish like sprats, as well as squid and crustaceans.
Little penguins can be pretty noisy! Their distinct braying calls are like a special language, helping them recognise each other and defend their territory. Calls are also important for attracting a mate and courtship.
When the penguins return home in the evening they will meet up and swim towards the shore as a group, known as a raft. Often when swimming together in the raft, they will make a quacking sound, which is a contact call to each other.
Little penguins are known for their distinct blue feathers. They are uniquely adapted to keep them warm and dry.
Each outer feather has tiny nano hooks that interlock, creating a smooth, waterproof surface. This is why penguins spend so much time preening – it’s like zipping up a high-tech wetsuit so that the water beads off.
Head over to our blog page to find out what makes the penguins' feather so blue!
We use cookies to understand how visitors use our website, which helps us improve your experience.
For more details, please read our Privacy policy.
