The Fiordland Penguin

The Fiordland Penguin is a species of penguin which inhabit the cold, dense, New Zealand rainforests, and hunt for sustenance within pelagic waters. They are small, as they don’t need to retain much body heat. In the future, they will likely get even smaller. Although their stunning plumage is thinner than that of other penguins, due to climate change, it is probable that it will thin even further, as superfluous feathers trap excess heat in warmer climates. The warm water offers fewer prey, thus the penguins must nest farther inland, resulting in the strengthening of their legs, and lessening of toe-webs, for the purpose of better grip when traversing land. They will find other means of nourishment, thus their beaks will sharpen, in order for them to successfully hunt on land. Kiffel-Alcheh, Jamie. “Fiordland Penguin.” National Geographic Kids. Accessed February 2, 2024. https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birds/facts/fiordland- penguin