2 Types of Penguins found in Tasmania! (2025)
What are the different kinds of penguins in Tasmania?
It’s easy to see why people are fascinated with penguins. Besides their adorable looks, these birds are unlike any other in the world!
They’re flightless birds that love to swim, they stand upright instead of hunched over, and almost all of them live in the southern hemisphere.
Keep reading to learn about EVERY type of penguin that lives on the planet, including photos and range maps!
THE 2 PENGUIN species in Tasmania:
#1. King Penguin
- Aptenodytes patagonicus
Identifying Characteristics:
- Adults are 70-100 cm (28-39 in) tall and weigh 9.3-18 kg (21-40 lb).
- Its coloring is dark on the back, wings, and legs, with bright yellow-orange plumage at the top of its chest and around each eye. The belly is white.
- The wings are large and flipper-like, and the beak is long and straight.
The King Penguin is the second largest penguin in the world.
Many people confuse them with the largest species, the Emperor Penguin, because they appear somewhat similar.
King Penguins live throughout the Southern Ocean, with sightings in South America, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and various islands.
These athletic penguins are impressive in the water! They can swim at 6.5–10 kph (4–6 mph) and dive to depths of 100-300 m (350-1000 ft). In addition, they can stay underwater for up to five minutes.
Even though they’re agile swimmers, King Penguins must be vigilant because they’re a favorite food for many sea mammals. In particular, sea lions will chase these penguins right onto the beach!
Like many types of penguins, King Penguins are susceptible to loss of habitat because of climate change. Even though they are currently a species of Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, their population is expected to decline by up to 70% in the next eighty years.
- Estimated Global Population: Between 2 and 3 million breeding pairs
#2. Fiordland Penguin
- Eudyptes pachyrhynchus
Also known as the Fiordland Crested Penguin or the New Zealand Crested Penguin.
Identifying Characteristics:
- Adults reach 60 cm (24 in) tall and weigh 2-5.95 kg (4.4-13.1 lb).
- Their coloring is bluish-grey with a darker head and white abdomen.
- They have broad yellow “eyebrows” that extend over the eyes and down the neck.
The population of Fiordland Penguins is rapidly declining.
The main detriment to their numbers is introduced species in New Zealand like cats, dogs, and rats, which prey on adults and chicks. Unfortunately, human disturbance, habitat destruction, and pollution also play a role. Due to their small range and population, they are vulnerable to extinction, and their status on the IUCN Red List is Near Threatened.
Fiordland Penguins are found along the southwestern coast of New Zealand.
In addition to these threats, the reproductive habits of Fiordland Penguins in Tasmania don’t help its declining numbers. Although they build nests in protected and covered areas, their eggs and chicks are still very vulnerable to predators. Two eggs are laid, one bigger and one smaller. The smaller egg usually doesn’t hatch successfully.
And even if it does hatch, the mortality of that chick is much higher. The smaller chick usually dies because it can’t compete for food with its larger, healthier sibling.
- Estimated Global Population: Less than 2,000 individuals
Do you want to know more about penguins in Tasmania?
Which type of penguin in Tasmania is your favorite?
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