Out of all the birds there are, the rockhopper  penguin is the most unique bird to study.  Most people think penguins are just black and white.  Not the rockhopper.  With its orange bill, red eyes, yellow band of feathers and even pink webbed feet, I guess you could say the rockhopper is as colorful as a rainbow. They get their color from the crested penguins.  The rockhopper isn't very big, standing in between eighteen and twenty-three inches, and only weighing about six pounds.  As you can see the rockhopper isn't a very big bird but it is very colorful, and that's what makes this bird the rockhopper penguin.

   All penguins live in the southern hemisphere of the world. The rockhopper lives on the freezing islands of the sub-Antarctic.  Specifically the rocky beaches.  In fact that's how they got their name, because they hop over rocks and crevices on the shores where they live.  So if you want to see a rockhopper go as far south possible and don't forget your warm hat!     

   A rockhopper penguin's nest isn't that hard to make. All it takes is to scrape a hole in the ground and then line it with dried grasses. Usually there are two eggs laid.  Most times only the second egg survives, because the first egg is smaller and often gets eaten by predators.  After the egg is laid the male and female guard and provide warmth to the egg for thirty to  thirty-two days, taking turns every ten days. The rockhopper's nest is very simple to make and they only have to care for the egg for about a month.

   When it comes to food, rockhopper penguins are carnivores (meat eaters) and don't have much of a diet.  They only eat squid, krill and fish that are near the surface.  They catch their prey right out of the water.  Rockhopper's don't have much of a diet variety but they eat a lot of it.

   Rockhopper penguins have three main predators including the fur seal, leopard seal and the blue shark, but there are still over three hundred rockhopper penguins in the world.  However the rockhopper's population is decreasing in New Zealand, and scientist can't figure out why.  As you can see the rockhopper is starting to die in New Zealand so let's try to save them.

   All in all rockhopper penguins are very unique vertebrates.  With their amazing color, interesting nests and ability to survive the cold, the rockhopper penguin is a phenomenal bird.