Chinstrap penguin (Pygoscelis antarctica), at breeding colony at Half Moon Island, Antarctica, Southern Ocean, Polar Regions

King penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) mating behavior at breeding and nesting colony at St. Andrews Bay on South Georgia, Southern Ocean, Polar Regions

Penguins walk by Southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina) pup, called a weaner, South Georgia Island, Southern Ocean

Southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina) pup, called weaners once their mothers stop nursing, South Georgia Island, Southern Ocean

Adult rockhopper penguins (Eudyptes chrysocome chrysocome) at breeding and molting colony on New Island, Falkland Islands

Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) at a breeding and molting site in Estancia San Lorenzo, Argentina

Magellanic penguin (Spheniscus magellanicus) at a breeding and molting site in Estancia San Lorenzo, Argentina

Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) at a breeding and molting site in Estancia San Lorenzo, Argentina

Adelie penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae), feeding chick at breeding colony at Brown Bluff, Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica, Polar Regions

Adult gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua), on eggs at Port Lockroy, Antarctica, Southern Ocean, Polar Regions

King penguins (Aptenodytes patagonicus) at breeding and nesting colony at Right Whale Bay, South Georgia, Polar Regions

King penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) adult and chick at breeding and nesting colony at Salisbury Plain, South Georgia, Polar Regions

Chinstrap penguin (Pygoscelis antarctica) breeding colony at Baily Head on Deception Island, Antarctica, Southern Ocean, Polar Regions

Bull southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina) on South Georgia Island, Southern Ocean

Adult southern rockhopper penguins (Eudyptes chrysocome), at breeding colony on West Point Island, Falklands, South America

Northern rockhopper penguins (Eudyptes moseleyi) covered in spilled oil from the wreck of the MS Oliva, Nightingale island, Tristan da Cunha Group, South Atlantic Ocean

Adult southern rockhopper penguin (Eudyptes chrysocome chrysocome) at breeding and molting colony, Falkland Islands, South America

A lone adult emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) on sea ice in the Gullet between Adelaide Island and the Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica, Polar Regions

Chinstrap penguin (Pygoscelis antarctica) breeding colony at Baily Head on Deception Island, Antarctica, Southern Ocean, Polar Regions

Bull southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina) on South Georgia Island, Southern Ocean

Adult southern rockhopper penguins (Eudyptes chrysocome), at breeding colony on West Point Island, Falklands, South America

Sunrise on king penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) at nesting and breeding colony at Salisbury Plain, South Georgia, Polar Regions

Gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua) breeding colony on Booth Island, Antarctica, Southern Ocean, Polar Regions

Adult Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) at breeding and molting site on Carcass Island, Falkland Islands, South America

Adult Southern Rockhopper Penguins (Eudyptes chrysocome chrysocome) in the Falkland Islands. This is the smallest yellow-crested, black-and-white penguin in the genus Eudyptes. It reaches a length of 45-58 cm (18-23 in) and typically weighs 2-3.4 kg (4.4-7.5 lb), although there are records of exceptionally large rockhoppers weighing 5 kg (11 lbs). Their common name refers to the fact that unlike many other penguins which negotiate obstacles by sliding on their bellies or by awkward climbing using their flipper-like wings as aid, Rockhoppers will try to jump over boulders and across cracks. This behavior is by no means unique to this species however - at least the other "crested" penguins of the genus Eudyptes hop around rocks too. Southern Rockhopper Penguins have a global population of roughly 1 million pairs, perhaps a bit more. About two-thirds of the global population belongs to E. c. chrysocome which breeds on the Falkland Islands and on islands off Argentina and southern Chile. The Southern Rockhopper Penguin is classified as Vulnerable species by the IUCN.