Australia: Philip Island – Little Blue Penguins
Blue penguins, aka little penguins or fairy penguins, are the smallest species of penguin and are found primarily in southern Australia and New Zealand (although the species were recently genetically split as separate(. They typically grow to be about 30 cm tall and weigh around 1 kg. Blue penguins are social animals and form colonies for breeding and nesting. They mate for life and often return to the same nesting site each year. Breeding colonies can range in size from just a few pairs to thousands of individuals, and the one on Philip Island is around 35,000, the largest in the world! On average, they live to be 6.5 years old, although some have reached the age of 25. Blue penguins are born with vibrant blue plumage and they’re the only penguins to deviate from the black-and-white standard — and even their eyes are blue! Young chicks typically exhibit a brighter blue than their elders, who develop into a more indigo hue with age. Their necks and bellies are usually grey and the undersides of their wings are white. The blue and white countershading helps to camouflage them while they’re swimming.
