Fairy Penguin Facts

The fairy, or little blue as it is more commonly known, is the smallest of the 17 species of penguin. The scientific name for this species is Eudyptula minor, which comes from the Greek term meaning "good little diver." The little blue is not an endangered species but, as are all penguin species, it is legally protected from hunting and egg theft.

  1. Description

    • The adult fairy penguin is around 16 inches tall and can weigh around 2 lbs. Like other species, they have a stocky build with small, flipperlike wings. The birds' feathers are a dark blue in color, which gives them their little blue name. The feathers on the chest and throat of the bird are white, and its eyes are a bluish-gray color.

    Habitat and Range

    • Like all penguin species, the little blue is found in the Southern Hemisphere and nests on the south coasts of Australia and New Zealand. They spend the daylight hours out at sea, fishing in large groups, and return at night to burrows or crevices in rock faces along the shoreline. A single penguin will use the same burrow year after year for its entire life to live in and raise young.

    Diet

    • The penguins catch their food by diving. They eat a range of fish, including anchovies and pilchards. They will also eat small crustaceans, squid, octopus and sea horses.

    Life Cycle

    • The breeding season for the little blue runs from June to August every year, with the average gestation period being 36 days. The penguins reach sexual maturity in two or three years. In plentiful years, a single pair can produce up to three broods, with an average of two eggs laid in each clutch. In the wild the penguin's average lifespan is about seven years.

    Predators

    • The natural predators of the fairy penguin include various varieties of seals and sharks, as well as killer whales, large seagulls and eagles. Little blues are also at risk from introduced predators, such as foxes, dogs and cats. Lizards and snakes also are a threat to the penguins by stealing eggs.