Fairy Penguin
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ID#31
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Classification: Mammal
Endangered Status: common Habitat: Coastlines of Australia, New Zealand and Chile The Fairy penguin, also known as the little penguin. It is the smallest penguin species, with dark blue-grey waterproof feathers on its upper parts, and white ones on its under parts. Its wings are used as flippers and help the fairy penguin move quickly in the water. This bird is highly vocal, meaning it can let out loud noises. The fairy penguin can be at least sixteen inches long, and the weight is around 2.2 pounds. Fairy penguins are carnivores whose diet includes: anchovies, pilchards, white bait, and squid. They fish in the ocean all day and then return to their burrows at night to feed their young. Fairy penguins breed in colonies. during July to August. They return to the same burrow each year, making repairs as needed. They lay one to three clutches of eggs each year, and the eggs take about thirty-six days to hatch. Penguins are able to breed when they reach two-three years of age. Breeding birds live around seven years in the wild. Fairy penguins have many predators including foxes, cats, large reptiles, sharks, killer whales, larger gulls, sea eagles, fur seals so their population is declining. While little can be done to help protect fairy penguins in the ocean, Maremma Sheepdogs are being used to protect colonies from predators. |