Photo: Native Yellow Eyed Penguin Bird South Island New Zealand

A Yellow-Eyed Penguin, a native marine bird of New Zealand, makes it way to nest near the Fossil Forest at Curio Bay, on the Southern Scenic Route of the South Island. The Fossil Forest is found in the Catlins district of the South Island.

A Yellow-Eyed Penguin, known of course for its distinctive yellow eyes and its pink feet, is a native New Zealand Penguin. It's scientific name is Megadyptes antipodes, and like most penguins, subsists on a diet of meat and fish.

It breeds around the South Island, among other places in New Zealand, and these breeding grounds are a popular tourist destination for people to go and watch these penguins from hideouts, trenches, and tunnels, in their native habitat, interacting with each other.

The Yellow-Eyed Penguin, is the sole surviving species in the genus Megadyptes and these penguins are currently listed as endangered. It is estimated that only about 4,000 of them are left and it is indeed one of the rarest species of penguins in the world. ... continue below the picture...

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... Some scientists believe that this species is the oldest surviving penguin species. The main threats to their survival now is loss of habitat, environmental changes including global warming and climate change, and increased predators.

This penguin, who is on its way to nest, will do so out of sight of other penguins, unlike most species. They come ashore in groups but will then disperse to nest.

Yellow-Eyed Penguin, Megadyptes antipodes, making its way to its nest near the Fossil Forest at Curio Bay, Southern Scenic Route, Catlins, Otago, East Coast, South Island, New Zealand.