Moulting Penguins

Yellow-eyed Penguins moult annually in February and March over a 3-4 week period. During this time they are very vulnerable to predation – disturbances by dogs or people can be fatal so please be extra careful when you are visiting beaches!

Unlike other seabirds, penguins moult their feathers all at once and sometimes they look sick, but are just moulting. In this phase their plumage is not waterproof and the body is not well insulated. As a result they are unable to go to sea to feed and during this time can lose up to 3 – 4 kg in body weight.