Eudyptula

Eudyptula is a genus of small penguins in the family Spheniscidae, commonly known as fairy penguins or little penguins. They are found along the southern coastlines of Australia, around New Zealand, and on nearby offshore islands, occupying temperate coastal habitats and often nesting in burrows, crevices, or other sheltered sites.

The genus contains two widely recognized species: Eudyptula novaehollandiae, the Australian little penguin, and Eudyptula minor, the New Zealand little penguin. In some classifications, taxonomic boundaries between these populations have been debated, and different authorities may treat them as separate species, subspecies, or regional variants.

Adults are among the smallest penguins, typically standing about 30 to 33 centimeters tall and weighing around 1 to 1.5 kilograms. They have dark bluish-black upperparts and white underparts. Their diet consists mainly of small fish, squid, and crustaceans, and they forage at sea, often returning to colonies at dusk or night.

Breeding is colonial and seasonal. Birds nest in burrows or sheltered crevices and usually lay two eggs. Both parents participate in incubation and feeding of the chicks, which remain in the nest for several weeks before fledging and learning to swim and forage independently.

Conservation status varies by population, but the IUCN generally lists the species overall as Least Concern, with local declines due to threats such as introduced predators (cats and rats), habitat loss, oil spills, and climate change. Protection of breeding habitats, predator control, and targeted management of colonies are common conservation measures.