Story: Penguins

Erect-crested penguin eggs (2nd of 2)

Erect-crested penguin eggs

Erect-crested penguins lay two eggs each year, the second egg being 85% heavier than the first. However, they only ever rear one chick. Almost always the chick hatches from the second egg. This phenomenon is a trait of all crested penguins.

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New Zealand Penguins
Photograph by Dave Houston

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How to cite this page:

Lloyd Spencer Davis, 'Penguins - Crested penguins', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/6423/erect-crested-penguin-eggs (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Lloyd Spencer Davis, published 12 Jun 2006, reviewed & revised 11 Jul 2016