Y E L L O W - E Y E D P E N G U I N S
The yellow-eyed penguin is the third largest penguin behind the Emperor, the largest, and the king penguin being the second largest. It stands 22 to 31 (56 to 79 c,) tall and weight from 10 to 13 pounds (4.5 to 6 kilograms). The birds gets its name from the yellow-orange cat-like eyes. They also have a band of yellow feathers going from the bill and circling the eyes and head. | 
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| This penguin lives and breeds on the forested coastline of New Zealand and the sub-Antarctic Islands to the south of New Zealand. The male and female work together to build their nest away from the other penguins in the forest or thick grasses. The nest is a shallow bowl shape in the ground and it carefully lined with grass, leaves, and twigs. |
Two eggs are laid and often both chicks survive. The eggs take 39 to 51 days to hatch with both parents sharing the task of keep the eggs safe and warm. Once hatched the chicks are cared for by both parents for 40 days, with the other parent collecting food in the ocean. Chicks stay with the parents and do not from "crèches" (groups of young chicks). After 106 days the chicks have their adult feathers and they go to sea. | 
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| In the last 50 years many of the trees in the forest area have been cut down on the New Zealand coast. This has reduced their habitat and has forced them into nesting in tall grasses. There have been many new predators introduced into their environment, cats, dogs, and ferrets. This has caused a decrease in the total population. It is estimated that there are 1,500 breeding pairs left in the world. The yellow-eyed is the rarest of all the penguins. |
