What is a little blue penguin?
The little blue penguin (Eudyptula minor), also called the little penguin or fairy penguin, is the smallest penguin species in the world. Adults stand only 30 to 33 cm tall and weigh about 1 to 1.5 kg. They are found along the coastlines of southern Australia and New Zealand. Unlike most penguins, they are primarily nocturnal on land, coming ashore after dark to avoid predators. Their plumage is a distinctive slate-blue on the back and white on the front, which provides camouflage in the water.
Related Species
Profiles connected to this answer — continue into habitat, diet, and conservation detail.
Related Questions
Keep learning
Short answers live here. Definitions, long reads, and the full catalogue sit next door.
Where this answer comes from
Reference bodies behind our species answers. Links last checked August 5, 2026.
- IUCN Red List - Global conservation assessments and extinction-risk categories.
- BirdLife Data Zone - Species accounts, distribution, and population summaries.
- Smithsonian Ocean Portal - Penguin biology, anatomy, and breeding explainers.
- Australian Museum - Little penguin biology and coastal breeding behavior.