The eastern rockhopper penguin, also known as the tawaki piki toka, is a crested penguin with yellow crest feathers. It was formerly treated as conspecific with the western rockhopper penguin with the name "southern rockhopper penguin" for the combined species. It is one of the smallest crested penguins and has distinctive pink margins around its bill. It breeds on islands in the Southern Indian and Pacific Oceans.
Region
Subantarctic Indian and Pacific Oceans
Typical Environment
Breeds on subantarctic islands of the southern Indian and southwest Pacific Oceans. Key colonies occur on the French Southern Territories (Kerguelen and Crozet) and New Zealand’s subantarctic islands such as Campbell and Auckland. Outside the breeding season, birds disperse widely at sea over cold, nutrient-rich waters. Colonies are typically on rugged, wave-exposed shores with access to offshore feeding grounds. Nest sites are found among tussock grass, boulders, and cliff ledges close to landings.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 300 m
Climate Zone
Temperate
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The eastern rockhopper penguin is a small crested penguin with vivid yellow eyebrow crests and distinctive pink margins around the bill. It was formerly lumped with the western rockhopper as the “southern rockhopper penguin.” Its name comes from its agile habit of hopping across steep, rocky shorelines to reach nesting colonies. Like other crested penguins, it is highly social at breeding sites and forms dense colonies.
At Macquarie Island
Temperament
social and noisy
Flight Pattern
flightless; powerful underwater swimmer
Social Behavior
Breeds in dense colonies on rocky shores and tussock slopes, often forming long-term pair bonds. Nests are simple scrapes or platforms among rocks or vegetation. Typically lays two eggs, with the first smaller egg seldom producing a chick; both sexes share incubation and chick rearing. Adults exhibit strong site fidelity, returning to the same colony and often the same nest area annually.
Migratory Pattern
Seasonal migrant
Song Description
Vocalizations include braying calls, sharp chatter, and trumpet-like displays used for mate recognition and territorial defense. Duets and head-shaking displays are common during courtship and at changeovers on the nest.
