FaunaHub
VUVulnerablePartial review

Fiordland Penguin

Eudyptes pachyrhynchus

Sources disagree. This record says Vulnerable; IUCN's current global assessment (2020) says Near Threatened. Both are shown until an editor resolves the difference.

Fiordland penguin (Eudyptes pachyrhynchus), a crested penguin with yellow brow stripes.

Fiordland penguin (Eudyptes pachyrhynchus).

Image: Chung-Yen, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

At a glance

IUCN category
VU · Vulnerable
Animal group
Birds
Population trend
Decreasing
FaunaHub record reviewed
Checked against IUCN
Sources disagree — IUCN's 2020 global assessment says Near ThreatenedChecked 2026-10-09 against IUCN's Red List export published 2026-07-28 · assessment

Conservation overview

The Fiordland penguin (tawaki) is a crested penguin that, unusually, nests in dense coastal rainforest. It is assessed as Vulnerable.

It comes ashore through temperate rainforest rather than on open beaches.

Range & habitat

Forested coasts of south-western New Zealand and nearby islands.

Major threats

Threats below are drawn from the authoritative sources listed on this page. For the current, complete assessment, see the IUCN Red List.

  • Introduced predators
  • Disturbance
  • Ocean change

Why it matters

A rare forest-nesting penguin found only in New Zealand, the Fiordland penguin is a flagship for protecting its coastal rainforest and surrounding seas.

Gallery

A Fiordland penguin on a rocky shore.

Fiordland penguin (Eudyptes pachyrhynchus).

Image: John Barkla, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Sources

Sources for Fiordland Penguin

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is it unusual for a penguin to nest in rainforest?
Most penguins nest on open ground or rock, but the Fiordland penguin breeds in dense, dripping temperate rainforest along New Zealand's south-west coast.
Why is the Fiordland penguin Vulnerable?
Published assessments cite introduced predators, disturbance, and ocean change. See the IUCN Red List for the current assessment.