Why do rockhopper penguins have red eyes

Rockhopper Penguins breed in colonies, from sea-level to cliff-tops and sometimes inland. The major colonies on the Falkland Islands are estimated to have over 3 million breeding pairs. The Rockhopper penguin is the smallest yellow-crested, black-and-white penguin, reaching a length of 55 centimetres and weighing 5 to 8 pounds. Rockhopper Penguins have distinctive crest feathers on their heads, bright orange-red beaks and tiny blood red eyes. Male and female Rockhopper Penguins are very similar in appearance, though males are larger.

The Rockhopper penguins are distinguished from the Macaroni penguin and other members of the crested species by their smaller size and the thin, vivid yellow tassels which extend along the sides of the brow but do not meet between the eyes. The top of the head has spiked black feathers. Like all penguins, Rockhopper Penguins have a big head, a short, thick neck, a streamlined shape, a short, wedge-shaped tail and strong, stiff, flipper-like wings.

For camouflage from predators, their under parts are mostly white, while the upper parts are blue-black. Hatchlings are dark brown with white and do not exhibit the characteristic yellow crest of the adults. Their habitat is usually vast green pastures and rocky areas. Southern Rockhopper penguins colonies are in southern regions of Chile, the Falkland Islands, and Southern Argentina while the northern subspecies inhabit only the Gough Island, Tristan da Cunha archipelago, and Amsterdam Island.

T hey are very nervous and temperamental. Clashes between individuals are common; flippers, beaks, and aggressive sounds are typical in these conflicts. The vocalization sounds they make are quite loud and divide into four categories according to their purpose: contact, sexual, warning, and recognition of hatchlings.

Like all penguins, they can rest on their bellies, but they cover their faces with their flippers while resting on a rock or some place that they consider comfortable. They walk freely in populated areas of sea lions without showing any fear, but in the water, the behavior of both is entirely different. They usually jump into the sea from low-rise rocks. They are dedicated hunters who manage to dive to a depth of ft and repeat 15 to 40 submersions per hour. The pre-molting trip is longer than other species of penguin; up to 60 days for northern species and 30 days for the southern one.

Based on recent genetic information, the rockhopper penguin species complex includes the northern rockhopper penguin Eudyptes moseleyi and the southern rockhopper penguin Eudyptes chrysocome.

The southern rockhopper penguin species can be further divided into the southern rockhopper Eudyptes chrysocome chrysocome and eastern rockhopper Eudyptes chrysocome filholi subspecies. Rockhoppers ply the frigid waters of their range using strong, narrow, flipper-like wings for propulsion. They usually stick to the shallows, but are capable of diving up to feet in pursuit of fish, crustaceans, squid, and krill. These penguins are among the most numerous on the planet, but their population is at-risk.

Colonies on the Falkland Islands were once the largest anywhere, but commercial overfishing, pollution, and other factors have cut the penguins' numbers dramatically. Breeding colonies on other islands are in trouble as well, and some estimates say rockhopper penguins have declined by more than 30 percent over the last 30 years of the 20th century. All rights reserved. Common Name: Southern Rockhopper Penguin. Scientific Name: Eudyptes chrysocome. Type: Birds. Diet: Carnivore. Group Name: Colony.

Size: 22 inches. Weight: 4.