Little Penguin

penguin · ocean · New Zealand · Australia

Smallest penguin ever. Little penguins are the tiniest penguin species in the entire world, barely bigger than a guinea pig. They're so small and blue that people sometimes call them fairy penguins or blue penguins instead.

Shimmering blue feathers. Their feathers aren't just blue because of color, they're packed with special structures called melanosomes that trap water and make the blue shine. This special feather design keeps them warm and dry while they swim in the ocean.

Diving hunters. Little penguins zoom through the water all day long hunting for small fish and other sea creatures. When the sun sets, they waddle back to burrows on the shore to rest and sleep.

Australian and New Zealand home. These adorable penguins live near Australia and New Zealand in the Southern Hemisphere. The local Māori people call them kororā, a name that's just as special as the penguin itself.