Which penguin species is endemic to New Zealand’s Snares Islands?

The Snares penguin is endemic to New Zealand’s Snares Islands.

This penguin breeds only on the Snares Islands, a small archipelago south of New Zealand’s South Island. Its scientific name, Eudyptes robustus, reflects its robust build. The species is also called the Snares crested penguin because it belongs to the crested-penguin group.

Snares penguins have a black head, a white throat and bright yellow crest feathers extending above the eyes. They nest in forest, scrub and rocky coastal areas, an unusual setting compared with the open Antarctic landscapes many people associate with penguins.

The species is protected by the islands’ isolation and conservation status. It is often confused with the Fiordland penguin, another New Zealand crested penguin, but Fiordland penguins breed on New Zealand’s South Island and nearby islands rather than being restricted to the Snares Islands.