Rockhopper Penguins have a bizarre blonde streaks of "hair" sticking out at the sides of their heads,
red eyes and red bills. Their feet are pink with black soles and toenails and they jump well.
Rocky enjoys singing - Rock music?
Hip hop?
Rock hop?
They live on rocky southern coasts of South America and on islands in the southern Atlantic,
Pacific and Indian Oceans. In 1992, the Rockhopper (E. chrysocome) was split into
3 subspecies, the Northern, the Southern and the Eastern. In 2006, they were further split into two distinct full species,
the Northern, (E. moseleyi) of more temperate Atlantic and Indian Ocean islands is
shown on this page.The Southern Rockhopper (E. chrysocome)
of sub-Antarctic waters around Cape Horn and New Zealand, incorporating the Eastern subspecies, is shown on a separate page.
"I'm a director"
"toilets this way."
Juvenile Rockhoppers don't have the blonde locks. They have black beaks and feet that turn red/pink later.
Not all authorities accept this later split. The division into species (and subspecies) is based on
appearance, genetic, vocal, behavioural and other key differences. For example the larger Northern species has a longer
yellow supercilium (eyebrow) and longer yellow crest, different underwing pattern and forages in warmer waters, in addition to DNA differences.
The Northern Rockhopper populations are threatened by starvation caused partly by unsustainable fishing.