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  1. Species
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  3. Spheniscidae
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  5. Eudyptes
  6. ›
  7. Western Rockhopper Penguin
Western Rockhopper Penguin
Photo · no rights reserved

BirdUp · Species

Western Rockhopper Penguin

Eudyptes chrysocome(Forster, JR, 1781)

Updated 21 March 2026

Conservation status: VulnerableOrigin: Vagrant
Order
SPHENISCIFORMES
Family
Spheniscidae
Genus
Eudyptes

At a glance

The Western Rockhopper Penguin is a large bird, about 45–58 cm long, listed as Vulnerable. It can be seen year-round.

Size
45–58 cm
Conservation status
Vulnerable
Origin
Vagrant
Best seen
Year-round
Commonness
Rare
  • Identification
  • Where
  • When
  • Behaviour
  • Gallery

01 · Identification

How to tell it apart

What does a Western Rockhopper Penguin look like?

The Western Rockhopper Penguin is a large bird, about 45–58 cm long and weighing 2000–4320 g.

The western rockhopper penguin is a species of rockhopper penguin. It occurs in subantarctic waters around the southern coast of South America and nearby islands.

Description · wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Field specs

Length
45–58 cm
Weight
2000–4320 g

Measurements · avonet · CC BY 4.0

03 · When

When to look

When can you see a Western Rockhopper Penguin?

The Western Rockhopper Penguin is present across its Australian range year-round, so it can be seen in any month.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

05 · Behaviour

Habits and haunts

What does a Western Rockhopper Penguin eat?

The Western Rockhopper Penguin feeds on fish/invertebrates, usually foraging in flocks.

06 · Gallery

Plumage up close

4 photos

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02 · Where

Where to find it

Where does the Western Rockhopper Penguin live in Australia?

The Western Rockhopper Penguin is found in Australia, recorded across 11 of Australia’s bioregions.

BreedingSA, AO : islands of south Chile including Cape Horn; Falkland Is.

Non-breedingTo coastal north-central Argentina

Distribution from BirdUp Australia community data

Legend

  • Vagrant
  • Breeding
  • Passage

8 regions recorded