Snares Crested Penguin – nests on the snares island slopes

nests on the snares island slopes

Size: Length: 50-60 cm, Weight: 2.5-3.5 kg
Lifespan: 15-20 years
Diet: Carnivorous. Feeds on krill small fish and squid. Dives to depths of 20-50 metres. Forages in subantarctic waters near breeding colonies.
Habitat: Subantarctic oceans. Breeds on coastal cliffs and steep slopes of Snares Islands. Nests under forest canopy or in open tussock grass areas.
Range: Endemic to Snares Islands New Zealand. Breeds only on main Snares Island and neighbouring islets. Forages in subantarctic waters around the islands.
Endemism: Endemic
Main Threats: Climate change affecting prey distribution and reducing krill availability in subantarctic waters. Potential introduction of predators to Snares Islands via shipwreck.
Population: Global population estimated at 30000-40000 breeding pairs restricted entirely to Snares Islands. Classified as Nationally Vulnerable by DOC.
Conservation Status: Not Threatened
Human Risk: harmless
Handling Note: endangered native penguin, do not approach or disturb
Conservation Note: Endemic penguin; breeds exclusively on The Snares islands.
Assessment: NZTCS Birds (2021)
Te Ao Māori: Pokotiwha is the Māori name for the Snares crested penguin. It is shared with the Fiordland crested penguin. In Māori tradition crested penguins were known as birds of the southern coasts. Their loud calls were heard on stormy nights. The Snares Islands where this penguin breeds are of spiritual significance to Ngāi Tahu. They represent the southern wilderness. The connection is geographic. It remains distant.

A crested penguin with yellow eyebrows that meet at the forehead like a unibrow made of feathers. The Snares crested penguin is endemic to the Snares Islands. This is a small windswept group south of New Zealand. It breeds nowhere else on Earth. A few tens of thousands of pairs exist. A few small islands host them. That is the entire species. The range is tiny. The isolation is total. The yellow crest starts at the base of the bill. It sweeps backward over the eye. It ends in drooping plumes that trail behind the head. The head is black. The back is black. The belly is white. The bill is orange-brown thick and heavy. The bird looks like it is wearing a fancy hat made of hay. The appearance is distinct. The style is bold. Feeding involves krill small fish and squid. The bird dives in the cold subantarctic waters surrounding the Snares. A Snares crested penguin in the water is fast agile and silent. It is a torpedo in a tuxedo. On land it is awkward. It hops. It climbs. It slides. The contrast is sharp. The movement changes with the medium. Breeding takes place on the Snares Islands. The nest is a shallow scrape under forest canopy or in dense tussock grass. Two eggs are laid. The first is much smaller than the second. It rarely survives. The second egg is larger. It gets all the parental attention. The strategy is selective. The investment is focused. The smaller egg is abandoned. Both parents share incubation. They take shifts of one to two weeks. The colony is noisy. It is filled with braying calls that carry across the water. The birds are always arguing. The noise is constant. The dispute is perpetual. The sound defines the atmosphere. This species is closely related to the Fiordland crested penguin of the South Island. The Snares species has a thicker bill. It has a slightly different crest. The distinction is subtle. The identification requires care. The features are specific. The population is stable. The Snares Islands are predator-free. No rats. No cats. No stoats. The penguins are safe there. The isolation provides protection. The absence of mammals is critical. The security is real. The main threat is climate change. Warming seas shift the distribution of krill and fish. The penguins have to travel further to find food. Longer trips mean less time on the nest. The consequence is reduced breeding success. The impact is indirect but significant. The ocean is changing. The bird must adapt. Pokotiwha is the Māori name. It is shared with the Fiordland crested penguin. Both species are known by the same name. They look similar. The classification is broad. The identity is split by location. This is a bird of the subantarctic wilderness. It does not need the mainland. It has its own islands. It has its own wind. It has its own waves. The independence is complete. The separation is preferred. It carries on.