Northern rockhopper penguin
Eudyptes moseleyi
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At Edinburgh Zoo, we have a small breeding colony of Northern rockhopper penguins.
They are easy to spot among our other penguins, thanks to the bright yellow feathers above their eyes!
They live on remote South Atlantic and Indian Ocean islands like Tristan da Cunha. They live in among rocks on the coastline beaches. Their name comes from the way that they hop across rocky terrain . They cannot slide on their bellies like most penguins.
Northern rockhopper penguins are classified as Endangered. Their population has dropped by almost 90% in the 1950s. This is due to climate change, overfishing and other factors arising from human activity.
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!
Latest Northern rockhopper penguin news
View all news
17 Nov 2025
One minute read
01 Oct 2025
Two minute read
![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