The blue penguin is the smallest of all penguins at just 40 cms.  They are steely blue above and satin white below. 

Blue penguins frequent the mainland coastal waters of both North and South Islands and many offshore islands around New Zealand.  They spend all day out at sea fishing, often solitary, mostly about 5m from the surface.  They feed on small fish, squid, and octopus when available.  At night they come ashore and leave at dawn to go back fishing.  When ashore they often wander as much as 500m inland and over 200m above sea level on some islands.  On Tiritiri Matangi they have been seen at night up by the lighthouse.

The little blue penguin has a variety of calls, mewing notes (like a cat), loud screams, trumpeting and deep toned growls.  They are most vocal at their breeding colonies and when they come ashore at dusk. 

Blue penguins go through a complete body moult, at the breeding site once their chicks have fledged.  This moulting period lasts for 10 -18 days and occurs some time between December and March.  During this period the blue penguin is not able to go out to sea and therefore doesn't eat, so a period of 2 -3 weeks at sea is spent beforehand fattening up.

Photography by: Anne Mein © (top left) and Peter Craw © (bottom right)

References: Heather, B.D.; Robertson, H.A. 2000 The Field Guide to the Birds of New Zealand. Auckland, Viking.