Northern rockhopper penguin
Eudyptes moseleyi
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We have a small breeding colony of Northern rockhopper penguins here at Edinburgh Zoo - easily spotted amongst our gentoo and king penguins thanks to the bright yellow feathers above their eyes!
Population
Decreasing
Diet
Piscivore
Habitat
Oceans
Fact file
Our rockhoppers are the smallest species of penguin at Edinburgh Zoo
Both males and females incubate their eggs in shifts - while one is on the nest, the other will be out at sea gathering food
Rockhopper penguins will often lay two eggs, with the second being considerably larger
They go through their annual moult in August and September so if you visit then you will see them looking particularly scruffy!
Keep up with our penguins
You may spot Kevin, our naughtiest penguin, who has a lifetime ban from the penguin parade for pecking at our visitors! Keep an eye out for Snowflake, our leucistic gentoo, easily identifiable by his rare pale white plumage. And don't forget Major General Sir Nils Olav, mascot of the Norwegian King's Guard and the world's highest ranking penguin!
Watch our penguin colony live![Northern rockhopper penguin looking directly at camera [eye-contact] IMAGE: Sian Addison 2018](https://images.rzss.org.uk/media/Edinburgh_Zoo/EZ_animals/Northern_rockhopper_penguin/northern rockhopper (3).jpg)
How we're helping
RZSS has helped with the conservation of wild rockhopper penguins on Tristan da Cunha for many years, including support to annual surveys, public dissemination of data and information and public engagement. Our RZSS WildGenes team are comparing genetic diversity, population structure and migration patterns within and among subpopulations with an aim to improve conservation strategies for this species.
Like all the animals in our care our Northern rockhoppers are amazing ambassadors for their relatives in the wild and help hundreds of thousands of people connect with nature every year. They encourage visitors to learn about the threats facing wildlife and the action they can take to help create a world where nature is protected, valued and loved.
Find out more about rockhopper conservation