Snares penguin

How it lives

Snares penguins are monogamous and breed once a year in colonies on the Snares Islands, with breeding from about September to late January. Two eggs are usually laid, but normally only one chick survives. Chicks fledge at about 11 weeks. Wild birds live around 15 to 20 years on average, according to one source.

Where it goes

Snares penguins breed only on the Snares Islands, about 200 km south of New Zealand, with the main colonies on North East Island. They are described as non-migratory. Where they go to feed outside the breeding season is not covered in the sources read.

We only draw a journey on the map when scientists have tracked it or clearly documented it. For this animal we have not found one yet.

Populations

New Zealand only, on the Snares Islands. A census in 1985 and 1986 counted 23,250 breeding pairs (19,000 on North East Island, 3,500 on Broughton Island and 750 on the Western Chain). Wikipedia gives about 25,000 pairs. One source says there is not enough trend data. The IUCN lists it as Vulnerable (2018), mainly because it breeds on such a small area of about 3 square kilometres. Threats named include competition with squid fisheries, climate change affecting prey, and oil pollution.