DOCSLIB.ORG

A Rockhopper X Royal Penguin Hybrid from Macquarie Island

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
A Rockhopper X Royal Penguin Hybrid from Macquarie Island VOL. 11 (2) JUNE 1985 35 AUSTRALlAN BIRD WATCHER 1985. II. 35-45 A Rockhopper x Royal Penguin Hybrid from Macquarie Island By KN.G. SIMPSON, Science Department, Victoria College - Burwood Campus, Burwood, Victoria 3125* Summary A specimen of Eudyptes penguin (Spheniscidae: Aves) originally collected in 1957 from North Head, Macquarie Island, after being identified as a Snares Penguin Eudyptes robustus Oliver 1953, has been re-identified as a hybrid between the Rockhopper Penguin E. chrysocome filholi Hutton 1878 and the Royal Penguin E. chrysolophus schlege/i Finsch 1876. Some facial identification features are discussed. Introduction AEudyptes penguin skin in the collections of the Museum of Victoria (MV) has a somewhat chequered history of identification and is festooned with labels and amendment tags. B7313, an adult female, was originally M/57 /B/111 collected by M. P. Hines under the auspices of Australian National Antarctic Research Expeditions (ANARE) on 3 November 1957, in the North Head Rockhopper/Royal Penguin colony, Macquarie Island. It was identified in the field as a Snares Penguin Eudyptes robustus. Another penguin of generally similar appearance, MY B7312, was also collected during 1957. B7313 certainly (possibly B7312 as well), was submitted to the late Dr (Sir) R. A Falla in New Zealand for confirmation of identification, and published by Keith & Hines (1958). B7312, collected on 17 March 1957 after completing its moult, does meet all of the identifiable characters of E. robustus and I accept it as such. One earlier record of Snares Penguin at Macquarie Island was on 5 February 1950 [Gwynn (1953) - see his plate facing p. 150] and that bird too, I accept as being E. robustus, a Snares Penguin. Keith & Hines (1958) noted that B7313 'was found in a mixed colony of Royal Penguins and Rockhopper Penguins Eudyptes chrysocome (Forster) but was not mated'. They also noted 'ovary was in full breeding condition'. The skin, taken in November, is in excellent plumage and shows no sign of moult. Initial label data were as follows: Label I. 'Michael Hines' Antarctic Collection, 1956-57.' Label 2. ANARE label - 'Macquarie Island, North Head, 3/ 11 /'57, (Face) M. P. Hines, M/57 /B/1 11 '. Note in pencil added by A. R. McEvey: 'E. robustus by Falla'. (Reverse) 'Bill uniformly brown Feet pinkish, black soles Iris red, tending to brown T.L. to tail 670 (mm) to toes 685 (mm) Flipper span 483 mm Weight 7 lb 2 oz·. *Formerly Antarctic Division, Department of Supply, Melbourne AUSTRALIAN 36 SIMPSON BIRD WATCHER Discussion The North Head colony is one of several on Macquarie Island where some small number of Royal Penguin nests meet and are interspersed among nests of Rockhopper Penguins. Most of the Royal and Rockhopper Penguin colonies on the island are discrete from each other. The breeding season of the two species is largely concurrent; sympatry thus occurs in some limited areas (Figure 1). 1 2 3 1. North Head 2. Aurora Point 4 3. Double Point 4. Rockhopper Point 5 5. Cape Star 6 6. Caroline Point Figure 1. Six localities on Macquarie Island where Royal Penguin and Rockhopper Penguin colonies are very close together or where they actually merge. Other such contacts may occur but were not recorded during my period on the island, December 1963- March 1964; December 1964- March 1966. These six sites are likely localities for hybrids to be found. Hybrid B7313 came from North Head. Drawing by Nicolas Day VOL. 11 (2) JUNE 1985 Rockhopper x Royal Penguin Hybrid, Macquarie Is. 37 Male Erect-crested Penguin 'paired' with female Royal Penguin, Flat Creek, Macquarie Island, 14-31 January 1964. Note wide space about the pair. Plate 6 ANARE photograph: KN.G. Simpson The opportunity for potential hybridisation is fairly obvious when so many Royal and Rockhopper colonies are so closely positioned or overlapping. Occasionally, Macquarie Island is visited by other Eudyptes species, e.g. the Snares Penguin mentioned in the paper so far (Gwynn 1953), and also by a steady trickle of Erect-crested Penguins E. sclateri. The potential of these for 'pairing' at least temporarily, although it was the moulting seasonjollowing the local breeding season, was demonstrated by a male Erect-crested which 'paired' with a female Royal Penguin during the moult. This was at Flat Creek, to the north of Aurora Point, between 14 and 31 January 1964 (Plate 6). The two penguins aggressively defended an area two or three times larger than is normally utilised by moulting Royal Penguins. During 1970 B7313 was identified as a Rockhopper by Simpson and A R. McEvey, based initially on superciliary stripe-crest (SSC) texture and on the position of the anterior tip of the SSC. An amendment tag was added: 'On point of origin of crest, and crest texture, colour and composition, I consider it to be E. chrysocome - (signed) A R. McEvey, 22/9/70'. AUSTRALIAN 38 SIMPSON BIRD WATCHER In 1972 I again examined the specimen and noted that across the black of the anterior crown and frons, but not visible at the feather surface, were many short parti-coloured black and yellow feathers. The laterally positioned and exposed SSe is chrome-yellow, much richer in colour than that of the normal adult E. c.filholi, and rather approaching the golden-yellow (sometimes almost reddish golden) frontal crest of the adult E. c. schlegeli. Snares Penguins have yellow SSes also, but perhaps not so richly coloured as in this particular specimen. The spread of yellow-black feathers across the frons and anterior crown is a diagnostic character of the Macaroni E. chrysolophus chrysolophus/ Royal E. c. schlegeli complex and (so far as is known) is not exhibited in other extant Eudyptes penguins. I have named it the 'frontal crest'. Available specimens of Eudyptes in the MV collections were examined for the presence of small yellowish/black frontal plumes. They were found only where they should be, on Macaroni and Royal Penguins. None were found on any Rockhopper from any source nor on the specimens of Snares Penguins, Fiordland Penguins E. pachyrhynchus, or Erect-crested Penguins E. atratus available to me. In B7313 the anterior tip of the SSe is perhaps 2-3 mm broader than is normal for Rockhopper Penguins. In this it again superficially resembles the Snares Penguin. The nature or texture of the SSe is definitely fibrous. I have identified this feature as an absolute character of the Macaroni/Royal complex, and of all Rockhoppers. In this character B7313 shows its correct affinity. The other Eudyptes species - Snares (including the specimen B7312), Fiordland and Erect-crested- all have their own absolute character, silky textured SSes. This character of the sse, fibrous versus silky, is fundamental in separating the two natural groups of Eudyptes penguins. In B7313 the anterior tip of the SSe is positioned precisely on (at) the middle (bisection) of the g/c baseline*, another absolute character of the Rockhopper Penguin complex. The anterior tip of the SSe in the Snares Penguin (as exemplified by B7312) is always positioned forward of the g/c baseline bisection. In the skin of B7313, perhaps in life too, the SSe is depressed closely against the sides of the head, quite unlike the protruding, 'untidy' posterior portion of the SSe of the average Rockhopper Penguin. This may well have been a principal reason for it being picked out of the North Head colony for collection. But, in yet two more head characters, the 'illusion' of a Snares Penguin is created and maintained. The lores of this bird B73 13 are reflective (glossy). This is a Snares feature but is also frequently a Macaroni/Royal feature and is therefore not so surprising. In Macaroni/Royals, the lores are very variable (see Plate 12) and not all of the paler-lored birds have reflective lores. *The g/c baseline is a line drawn precisely from the angle of the gape (g) to the proximal base of the exposed culmen (c). It is of great value in separating the species of Eudyptes with lateral sse and is my own 'invention.' VOL. II (2) JUNE 1985 Rockhopper x Royal Penguin Hybrid, Macquarie Is. 39 Comparison of four Eudyptes penguin skins from Macquarie Island: Top Royal Penguin 82478. A fairly typical specimen. Note massive bill, pale face (variable from black to white in the entire population), black upper !ores (may be entirely or partly black). A fibrous frontal crest arises on frons, spreads across head and back over the eyes. The colour is a rich gold, almost 'red-gold' in some birds. See also Plate 12 of live Royal Penguins. Second Top The hybrid Rockhopper x Royal Penguin 87313. Note smaller bill, dull black face but 'glossy' or 'reflective' black !ores. Particularly note the position of the fibrous SSC at its most anterior point, and compare it with the Rockhopper (below). Second Bottom Rockhopper Penguin 811865. Note bill only slightly less in size to hybrid penguin; dull (non-reflective) black face and I ores. Particularly note the position of the fibrous sse at its most anterior point- it terminates at precisely the same point as does that of the hybrid penguin. Now compare this with the Snares Penguin at bottom. Bottom Snares Penguin 87312. Note medium-sized bill, glossy black face and !ores. Particularly note position of the anterior point of the silky SSC - it arisesfor~va rd of the position where both hybrid and Rockhopper Penguin's SSC arises. This is the pa.rticular Snares Penguin taken in the same year as the hybrid bird. Plate 7 Photograph of Museum of Victoria ski ns: KN.G. Simpson AUSTRALIAN 40 SIMPSON BIRD WATCHER Details of the hybrid Rockhopper X Royal Penguin B7313 (upper) and of the Rockhopper Penguin 811865 (lower).
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Climate Change Threatens Penguins
    SEPTEMBER 2009 Climate Change Threatens Penguins By: Shaye Wolf Penguins are not just found in •11 of 18 penguin species are Antarctica declining and considered an Penguins—waddling wonders of extinction risk the Southern Hemisphere Although penguins are commonly associated with Antarctica, penguins •Two species are considered Penguins (order Sphenisciformes, are found in a variety of habitats stable. family Spheniscidae) are flightless in the Southern Hemisphere. seabirds found almost entirely in Eighteen different penguin species •The population status of the the Southern Hemisphere. Although inhabit areas from Antarctica to the remaining five is unknown. their wings have become useless for Equator. They can be divided into Studies have linked climate change flight, they have become superbly three groups: to past, ongoing, and projected adapted to swimming and diving. population declines of many For example, Gentoo penguins •Four penguin species breed in Antarctica and/or the Antarctic penguin species. Because penguins can swim up to 35 km per hour— live in different ocean habitats of compared with 9 km per hour for islands: the Emperor, Adélie, Chinstrap, and Gentoo penguin. the Southern Hemisphere, climate the fastest Olympic swimmer. change affects penguins in these Emperor penguins can dive to •Most penguin species breed on regions in different ways. depths of more than 520 m to find islands in the sub-Antarctic waters food—deeper than any other bird. of the Southern Ocean (a.k.a. How is climate change affecting Penguins must return to land or sea Antarctic Ocean), the South Atlantic Antarctic penguins? ice to rear their young, however, Ocean, the South Pacific Ocean, and they are renowned for their The Antarctic continent is warming and the Southern Indian Ocean: as a whole,1 but the Antarctic feats of endurance as parents.
    [Show full text]
  • Birds of the Snares Islands, New Zealand
    Notornis, 2001, Vol. 48: 1-40 0029-4470 0 The Ornithological Society of New Zealand, Inc. 2001 Birds of the Snares Islands, New Zealand COLIN M. MISKELLY Department of Zoology, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch, New Zealand Current address: Wellington Conservancy, Department of Conservation, PO. Box 5086, Wellington, New Zealand [email protected] PAUL M. SAGAR National Institute of Water &Atmospheric Research, PO. Box 8602, Christchurch ALAN J.D. TENNYSON Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, PO. Box 467, Wellington R. PAUL SCOFIELD Department of Zoology, University of Otago, PO. Box 56, Dunedin Abstract Bird records from the Snares Islands between Dec 1982 and Oct 2000 are summarised. Population estimates and distributions are given for the 29 breeding species. Bird species recorded breeding on the Snares Is for the first time since 1982 were southern black-browed albatross (Diomedea melanophtys), Chatham Island albatross (D. eremita), mallard (Anasplatyrhynchos), southern black-backed gull (Larus dominicanus), fantail (Rhipidura Juliginosa), and starling (Sturnus vulyaris). Fantails are now abundant on the Snares Is. Published work on the breeding chronology and breeding success of 8 intensively studied species is summarised, and new information on breeding ecology is presented for all breeding species. Sighting of 70 non-breeding and vagrant species are summarised;34 of these were new records from the Snares Is since 1980. The total bird list for the Snares Is is now 99 species, with a further 8 species reported from boats offshore. Miskelly, C.M.; Sagar, EM.; Tennyson, A.J.D;Scofield, R.l? 2001. Birds of the Snares Islands, New Zealand.Notornis 48(1): 1-40.
    [Show full text]
  • Endangered Species Research 39:293
    Vol. 39: 293–302, 2019 ENDANGERED SPECIES RESEARCH Published August 22 https://doi.org/10.3354/esr00970 Endang Species Res OPENPEN ACCESSCCESS Sexual and geographic dimorphism in northern rockhopper penguins breeding in the South Atlantic Ocean Antje Steinfurth1,2,*,**, Jenny M. Booth3,**, Jeff White4, Alexander L. Bond5,6, Christopher D. McQuaid3 1FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DST/NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7700, South Africa 2RSPB Centre for Conservation Science, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, David Attenborough Building, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire CB2 3QZ, UK 3Coastal Research Group, Department of Zoology and Entomology, Rhodes University, PO Box 94, Grahamstown 6140, South Africa 4Marshall University, Huntington, WV 25755, USA 5RSPB Centre for Conservation Science, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, The Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire SG19 2DL, UK 6Bird Group, Department of Life Sciences, The Natural History Museum, Tring, Hertfordshire HP23 6AP, UK ABSTRACT: The Endangered northern rockhopper penguin Eudyptes moseleyi, like all pen- guins, is monomorphic, making sex determination of individuals in the field challenging. We examined the degree of sexual size dimorphism of adult birds across the species’ breeding range in the Atlantic Ocean and developed discriminant functions (DF) to predict individuals’ sex using morphometric measurements. We found significant site-specific differences in both bill length and bill depth, with males being the larger sex on each island. Across all islands, bill length contri - buted 78% to dissimilarity between sexes. Penguins on Gough Island had significantly longer bills, whilst those from Tristan da Cunha had the deepest. Island-specific DFs correctly classified 82−94% of individuals, and all functions performed significantly better than chance.
    [Show full text]
  • A Review of Isabellinism in Penguins
    Notornis, 2003, Vol. 50: 43-51 0029-4470 O The Ornithological Society of New Zealand, Inc. 2003 SHORT NOTE A review of isabellinism in penguins DAVID A. EVERITT Lake Tuggeranong College, P.O. Box 1188, Tuggeranong, ACT 2901, Australia [email protected] COLIN M. MISKELLY Wellington Conservancy, Department of Conservation, P.O. Box 5086, Wellington, New Zealand [email protected] Isabellinism is a term used for a form of partial Hendrickson 1987). However, this derivation albinism, where a uniform lightening of is refuted in the Shorter Oxford dictionary (Onions pigmentation results in a greyish-yellow 1973). coloration instead of black. The 6th edition of The Isabellinism has, to our knowledge, been concise Oxford dictionary (Sykes 1978) defines observed in 12 of the 17 species of penguin from Isabella (noun) as "Greyish yellow; hence 5 of the 6 genera: king penguin (Aptenodytes isabelline". Some authors (e.g., Sage 1962; Schlatter patagonica); yellow-eyed penguin (Megadyptes 1977; Forrest & Naveen 2000) have used the term antipodes) (Plate 1A); Addie penguin (Pygoscelis leucistic to describe birds with very pale or adelie) (Plate 1B); gentoo penguin (P. papua) washed-out plumage; we here assume leucistic to (Plate lC, ID); chinstrap penguin (P. antarctica); be svnonvmous, , with isabelline. As leucistic Snares crested penguin (Eudyptes robustus) (Plate implies white or colourless, we suggest that 2A); macaroni penguin (E. chrysolophus); royal isabelline is a more appropriate term for birds with penguin (E. schlegeli) (Plate 2B); rockhopper this "faded" plumage. Here, we refer to all penguin (E. chrysocome); Magellanic penguin penguins previously described as leucistic or with (Spheniscus magellanicus) (Plate 2C); Humboldt diluted dorsal pigmentation as isabelline.
    [Show full text]
  • Kooyman Et Al: Foraging Patterns of Penguins
    Kooyman et al: Foraging patterns of Penguins https://www.internationalornithology.org/PROCEEDINGS_Durban/S... In: Adams, N.J. (et al): Proceedings of the 22nd International Ornithological Congress 1998, pp 2021-2039 (1999) S34.2: Foraging patterns of polar penguins G. Kooyman1, C. Hull2, O. Olsson3, G. Robertson4, J. Croxall5 & L. Davis6 1Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093-0204 USA , fax 619 534 1305, e-mail [email protected]; 2University of Tasmania, Hobart 7001, Australia; 3University of Uppsala, Sweden; 4Australian Antarctic Division, Kingston 7050, Tasmania, Australia; 5British Antarctic Survey, Madinghay Road, Cambridge CB3 0ET, UK; 6University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand Kooyman, G., Hull, C., Olsson, O., Robertson, G., Croxall, J. & Davis, L. 1999. Foraging patterns of polar penguins. In: Adams, N.J. & Slotow, R.H. (eds) Proc. 22 Int. Ornithol. Congr., Durban: 2021-2039. Johannesburg: BirdLife South Africa. Sub-antarctic and polar penguins have revealed important differences in the distances travelled to foraging areas, the physical and biological characteristics of foraging areas, and foraging patterns. Differences are associated with preferred prey and its abundance. Data were acquired using satellite transmitters and time/depth recorders, the former giving location and rates of travel, the latter diving depths and patterns. Distinctions between travel and feeding dives help to assess foraging success. Data were matched to satellite imagery for determination of sea surface conditions. Sub-antarctic penguins travel further than polar penguins, feed near the Antarctic polar front, and are primarily diurnal feeders. Polar species feed at edges of coastal ice, pack ice, and polynyas. Most locations are neritic.
    [Show full text]
  • Full Text in Pdf Format
    MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES Vol. 153: 217-228,1997 Published July 10 Mar Ecol Prog Ser l Foraging zones of royal penguins during the breeding season, and their association with oceanographic features Cindy L. H~ll'~',Mark A. Hindell', Kelvin Michae12 'Zoology Department, University of Tasmania, GPO Box 252C. Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia *Antarctic CRC and Institute of Southern Ocean and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania. GPO Box 252-77, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia ABSTRACT: Satellite transmitters were deployed on breeding royal penguins at Macquarie Island dur- ing 4 stages (first male foraging trip during incubation, n = 2; first female foraging trip during incuba- tion, n = 3; guard, n = 4; and early creche. n = 1) of the 1994/5 and 1995/6 breeding seasons. From these data, foraging zones, oceanographic features of the zones, and travelling behaviours were determined. Foraging trip length, area of foraging zone, and distance travelled were strongly correlated, and were greatest during incubation. The estimated rate of travel (mean velocity) was constant across individu- als and stages In the breeding season. No diurnal patterns in rates of travel were detected, nor any pat- terns on different days of a foraging trip. A meander coefficient (the degree of linear travel, to give an indication of foraging activity) was constant between stages in the breeding season, and day of the for- aging trip. but was greater from 07:OO to 18100 h, suggesting increased foraging activity. Foraging dur- ing all stages of the breeding season was offshore, in deep water (greater than 2000 m) and in the polar frontal zone.
    [Show full text]
  • 90-Day Finding on a Petition to List 12 Penguin Species As
    Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 132 / Wednesday, July 11, 2007 / Proposed Rules 37695 action that affects the status of a ACTION: Notice of 90-day petition SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: If you geographical area and does not impose finding and initiation of status review. submit information or comments, please any new requirements on sources. Thus, include ‘‘Attn: Penguins’’ in the the requirements of section 12(d) of the SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and beginning of your message. Electronic National Technology Transfer and Wildlife Service (Service), announce a attachments in standard formats (such Advancement Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C. 90-day finding on a petition to list 12 as .pdf or .doc) are acceptable, but 272 note) do not apply. As required by penguin species: emperor penguin please name the software necessary to section 3 of Executive Order 12988 (61 (Aptenodytes forsteri), southern open any attachments in formats other FR 4729, February 7, 1996), in issuing rockhopper penguin (Eudyptes than those given above. Also, please this proposed rule, EPA has taken the chrysocome), northern rockhopper include your name and return address necessary steps to eliminate drafting penguin (Eudyptes moseleyi (E. in your e-mail message. If you do not errors and ambiguity, minimize chrysocome moseleyi)), fiordland receive a confirmation from the system potential litigation, and provide a clear crested penguin (Eudyptes that we have received your e-mail legal standard for affected conduct. EPA pachyrhynchus), snares crested penguin message, please submit your comments has complied with Executive Order (Eudyptes robustus), erect-crested in writing using one of the alternate 12630 (53 FR 8859, March 15, 1988) by penguin (Eudyptes sclateri), macaroni methods described above.
    [Show full text]
  • State of Antarctic Penguins 2018 Report
    STATE OF ANTARCTIC PENGUINS 2018 STATE OF ANTARCTIC PENGUINS 2018 ABSTRACT other information about Antarctic penguins, integrating This report comprehensively summarizes the status — expert biological field surveys, satellite imagery analyses population size and population trends — of Antarctica’s and citizen science. five penguin species, continent-wide and in key regions. These species total at least 6.1 million breeding pairs Our goal is to keep everyone fully apprised of the latest, nesting at 661 or more sites across the entire Antarctic most accurate population data about Antarctic penguins continent. This report uses the most current scientific — both continent-wide and regionally—, and trends in data, including 3,617 records from 108 sources of on- such numbers. Additionally, we will note key references the-ground colony counts and satellite photo analyses. and report on the latest scientific papers and publications We continue to closely track the notable changes in relating to Antarctica’s five breeding species of penguins. the Antarctic Peninsula, which has undergone a well- documented period of warming over the last six decades. While work on MAPPPD’s predictive trend models There, we have noted Adélie and chinstrap declines and continues, MAPPPD is currently using a population gentoo increases; however, there are indications that dynamics model recently published and described in the warming trend has leveled off in recent years with a Che-Castaldo et al. (2017). This model was developed concomitant stabilization of some Adélie populations. Our for Adélie penguins and is being fine-tuned for use with report relies on Oceanites’ open access, publicly available chinstrap and gentoo penguins as well.
    [Show full text]
  • Maximum Diving Depths of Northern Rockhopper Penguins (Eudyptes Chrysocome Moseleyi ) at Amsterdam Island
    Polar Biol (1997) 17: 119Ð122 ( Springer-Verlag 1997 ORIGINAL PAPER Yann Tremblay á Eric Guinard á Yves Cherel Maximum diving depths of northern rockhopper penguins (Eudyptes chrysocome moseleyi ) at Amsterdam Island Received: 10 January 1996/Accepted: 31 March 1996 Abstract The mean maximum dive depth from 49 preying upon pelagic crustaceans during reproduction foraging bouts by northern rockhopper penguins, (Cooper et al. 1990). The limited information available measured using capillary-tube depth gauges, was on the northern rockhopper penguin at Gough Island 66$4 m (12Ð168 m). There were no di¤erences in the (40¡20@S; 09¡54@W) indicates that it preys mainly on maximum dive depths between male and female pen- crustaceans ('90% by mass), like its southern relative, guins. Northern rockhopper penguins dived deeper in while fish and squid are minor components of the diet early than in late creche stages (83$7vs57$4 m), (Klages et al. 1988). In the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, and this was associated with probable dietary changes, northern rockhopper penguins breed on volcanic is- squid dominating the diet by mass (44%) in November, lands devoid of periinsular shelf. They are consequently and fish (64%) in December 1994 at Amsterdam Island. obligatory oceanic foragers, a unique feature among crested penguins during breeding. This paper reports the first data on maximum diving Introduction depths attained by northern rockhopper penguins while rearing chicks. Sexual and temporal di¤erences in Crested penguins (genus Eudyptes) are the most numer- diving depths were investigated in male and female ous penguins, both by number of individuals and num- penguins during the early and late creche stages.
    [Show full text]
  • An Apparent Hybrid Royal X Rockhopper Penguin at Macquarie Island
    VOL. 18 (3) SEP'IEMBER 1999 95 AUSTRALIAN BIRD WATCHER 1999, 18, 95-100 An Apparent Hybrid Royal x Rockhopper Penguin at Macquarie Island by CINDY L. HULV and ALAN WILTSHIRE2 1 Zoology Department, University of Tasmania, G.P.O. Box 252C, Hobart, Tasmania 7001 (present address: Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, B.C., Canada V5A 1S6) 2 Parks and Wildlife Service, Department of Environment & Land Management, G.P.O. Box 99A, Hobart, Tasmania 7001 (present address: P.O. Box 3061, Launceston Delivery Centre, Tasmania 7250) Summary Several species of Eudyptes penguins breed in large, mixed colonies on subantarctic islands. However, interbreeding between species has rarely been recorded. This paper provides details of a possible hybrid Royal x Rockhopper Penguin on Macquarie Island, and summarises published records of hybrids and mixed pairs on Macquarie Island and elsewhere. Introduction There are six species of crested penguins Eudyptes and, at a number of locations, some species breed sympatrically (Warham 1975). Two species of crested penguins, the Royal Eudyptes schlegeli and Rockhopper E. chrysocome Penguin, breed sympatrically on Macquarie Island (54°33'S, 158°54'E ), where there are six mixed colonies of Royal and Rockhopper Penguins (Simpson 1985). An apparent hybrid Royal x Rockhopper Penguin (Plates 23-24) was observed on Macquarie Island in late October 1994. At that time of year, both species had returned to the island to breed after their winter departure. By the end of October, Royal Penguins had laid two eggs (the smaller~ egg', laid first, and the larger 'B egg') and were incubating, while Rockhopper Penguins were preparing to lay (Hull 1997).
    [Show full text]
  • A Royal Penguin Eudyptes Schlegeli in the Falkland Islands?
    Dehnhard et al.: Royal Penguin in the Falkland Islands 95 A ROYAL PENGUIN EUDYPTES SCHLEGELI IN THE FALKLAND ISLANDS? NINA DEHNHARD1, KATRIN LUDYNIA1,2, ANA ALMEIDA3 1Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Vogelwarte Radolfzell, Am Obstberg 1, 78315 Radolfzell, Germany ([email protected]) 2Animal Demography Unit, Department of Zoology, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, Cape Town, South Africa 3Eco-Ethology Research Unit, ISPA, Rua Jardim do Tabaco 34, 1149-041 Lisboa, Portugal Received 19 October 2011, accepted 20 June 2012 SUMMARY DEHNHARD, N., LUDYNIA, K. & ALMEIDA, A. 2012. A Royal Penguin Eudyptes schlegeli in the Falkland Islands? Marine Ornithology 40: 95–98. The Royal Penguin Eudyptes schlegeli breeds only on Australia’s Macquarie Island and its nearby islets, about 1 200 km southwest of New Zealand. Vagrant Royal Penguins have been reported elsewhere in Australia, New Zealand and Antarctica. Reports of Royal Penguins from other subantarctic islands, including Heard, Prince Edward and Marion Islands, South Georgia and the Falkland Islands are controversial, as these penguins could also be aberrant Macaroni Penguins E. chrysolophus, and species determination can be difficult because of high variation in facial colour in both species. We discuss here the recent sighting of an apparent immature Royal Penguin on New Island, Falkland Islands. A simultaneously visiting adult male Macaroni Penguin allowed a size comparison between the two individuals. This could be the first documented sighting of a vagrant Royal Penguin in the Neotropical region. Key words: Royal Penguin, Macaroni Penguin, body size, facial coloration, Falkland Islands/Islas Malvinas INTRODUCTION anterior, fibrous-textured, yellowish-golden and black superciliary stripe crest feathers meet on the forehead (Williams 1995).
    [Show full text]
  • ADELIE PENGUIN Ni Hao. I Am the Adelie Penguin. I Have a Black Head
    Ni hao. I am the Adelie penguin. I have a black head, a white belly, and pink feet. I have a white eye ring. I am about 30” tall. I weigh 8 to 14 lbs. My predators are leopard seals, skuas, and sheathbills. I eat plankton, squid, and mainly krill. My nest is made out of small stones and pebbles. I live in Antarctica. My chicks grow the fastest. By Addy ADELIE PENGUIN Hi, I am an emperor penguin. I have a white belly. I have a black beak. I have a yellow stripe on my belly. I am 45”. I am 65 lbs. My predators are leopard seals, killer whales, and skuas. I eat fish and squid. I live in Antarctica. With my feet, I can keep my egg warm. I am a big penguin. By Aaron EMPEROR PENGUIN Hi, I am a yellow-eyed penguin. I am 26” and 9 to 14 lbs. My predators are sea lions. I eat squid and fish. I use grass and twigs to build my nest. I live in New Zealand. I am shy. By Erik YELLOW-EYED PENGUINS Hola. I am a king penguin. I have a white belly. I am mostly black and also I have black feet. My baby is brown. I am 30” and 35 pounds. My predators are leopard seals, skuas, petrels, gulls, and sheathbills. My diet is squid and small fish. I don’t make a nest. I live in Antarctica. My fun fact is that I run instead of hopping like other penguins. KING PENGUIN By Jordan Hi, I am a gentoo.
    [Show full text]