Rockhopper penguin (Eudyptes chrysocome) portrait, Rockhopper Point, Sea Lion Island, Falkland Islands, South America

Two rockhopper penguins (Eudyptes chrysocome chrysocome), Sea Lion Islands, Falkland Islands, Atlantic, South America

Family of rockhopper penguins (Eudyptes chrysocome chrysocome) hugging, Sea Lion Island, Falkland Islands, South Atlantic, South America

Group of rockhopper penguins (Eudyptes chrysocome chrysocome) on a rocky islet, East Falkland, Falkland Islands, South America

An adult Southern rockhopper penguin, Eudyptes chrysocome, at rookery on New Island, Falkland Islands, South Atlantic Ocean

Rockhopper penguin (Eudyptes chrysocome) mutual preening behaviour, Rockhopper Point, Sea Lion Island, Falkland Islands, South America

An adult Southern rockhopper penguin pair, Eudyptes chrysocome, at rookery on New Island, Falkland Islands, South Atlantic Ocean

Rockhopper penguin (Eudyptes chrysocome) poses on a rock, the Neck, Saunders Island, Falkland Islands, South America

Southern rockhopper penguins, Eudyptes chrysocome, with photographer on Saunders Island, Falkland Islands, South Atlantic Ocean

Rockhopper penguin (Eudyptes chrysocome) vocalisation, Rockhopper Point, Sea Lion Island, Falkland Islands, South America

Southern rockhopper penguins, Eudyptes chrysocome, at rookery on Saunders Island, Falkland Islands, South Atlantic Ocean

Southern rockhopper penguin group (Eudyptes chrysocome), Saunders Island, South Sandwich Islands, Antarctica, Polar Regions

Rockhopper penguin (Eudyptes chrysocome) courtship behaviour, Rockhopper Point, Sea Lion Island, Falkland Islands, South America

Rockhopper penguin (Eudyptes chrysocome) poses on a rock, Rockhopper Point, Sea Lion Island, Falkland Islands, South America

An adult Southern rockhopper penguin, Eudyptes chrysocome, at rookery on New Island, Falkland Islands, South Atlantic Ocean

Southern rockhopper penguin group (Eudyptes chrysocome), Saunders Island, South Sandwich Islands, Antarctica, Polar Regions

Wet rockhopper penguins (Eudyptes chrysocome) on rocks, the Neck, Saunders Island, Falkland Islands, South America

Two Rockhopper penguins (Eudyptes chrysocome chrysocome) showing affection, Sea Lion Island, Falkland Islands, South America

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

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

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

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

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

Adult southern rockhopper penguins (Eudyptes chrysocome), on Saunders Island, Falkland Islands, South America

Adult southern rockhopper penguin (Eudyptes chrysocome) at breeding colony on Saunders Island, Falkland Islands, South America

Couple of Southern Rockhopper penguins (Eudyptes chrysocome), New Island, Falkland Islands, British Overseas Territory, South America

Calling Southern Rockhopper penguins (Eudyptes chrysocome), New Island, Falkland Islands, British Overseas Territory, South America

Southern Rockhopper penguin (Eudyptes chrysocome), New Island, Falkland Islands, British Overseas Territory, South America

Adult rockhopper penguins (Eudyptes chrysocome) at nesting site on New Island, Falkland Islands, U.K. Overseas Protectorate, South America

Southern Rockhopper penguin (Eudyptes chrysocome), New Island, Falkland Islands, British Overseas Territory, South America

Rockhopper penguin (Eudyptes chrysocome chrysocome), Falkland Islands, South America

Southern rockhopper penguins (Eudyptes chrysocome), jumping in huge waves to sea on New Island, Falklands, South America

Adult rockhopper penguin (Eudyptes chrysocome) at nesting site on New Island, Falkland Islands, U.K. Overseas Protectorate, South America

Southern rockhopper penguin (Eudyptes chrysocome), adult with chick on New Island, Falklands, South America

Southern rockhopper penguins (Eudyptes chrysocome), jumping in huge waves to sea on New Island, Falklands, South America

Adult southern rockhopper penguins (Eudyptes chrysocome) at breeding and molting colony on New Island, Falklands, UK Overseas Protectorate, Polar Regions

Adult southern rockhopper penguins (Eudyptes chrysocome), head detail on Saunders Island, Falklands, South America

Southern Rockhopper penguin rookery (Eudyptes chrysocome), New Island, Falkland Islands, British Overseas Territory, South America

Adult southern rockhopper penguins (Eudyptes chrysocome), head detail on Saunders Island, Falklands, South America

Southern rockhopper penguin breeding colony (Eudyptes chrysocome), on Saunders Island, Falkland Islands, South America

Adult southern rockhopper penguins (Eudyptes chrysocome) on New Island, Falkland Islands, South America

Group of rockhopper penguins (Eudyptes chrysocome chrysocome) on a rocky islet, East Falkland, Falkland Islands, South America

Rockhopper penguin colony (Eudyptes chrysocome), Falkland Islands, South America

Adult southern rockhopper penguin (Eudyptes chrysocome), head detail, in Franklin Bay, Isla Estado, Argentina, South America

Close up portrait of a rockhopper penguin (Eudyptes chrysocome), Falkland Islands, South America

Rockhopper penguin (Eudyptes chrysocome) on a rocky coastline, the Neck, Saunders Island, Falkland Islands, South America

Rockhopper penguin (Eudyptes chrysocome) portrait, the Neck, Saunders Island, Falkland Islands, South America

Rockhopper penguin (Eudyptes chrysocome), New Island, Falkland Islands, South America

A Black Browed Albatross (Thalassarche melanophris) sitting on a nest in a mixed nesting colony of albatross's and Rockhopper Penguins (Eudyptes chrysocome) on Westpoint island in the Falkland Islands off argentina, in South America. Albatrosses are globally thratened by long line fishing boats who are responsible for killing thousands of birds.

Rockhopper Penguins (Eudyptes chrysocome) washing in a stream on Westpoint island in the Falkland Islands off argentina, in South America. Numbers off rocxkhoppers have declined substantially, partly due to competition with commercial fishing and partly due to climate change, which causes their prey food to migrate to cooler waters.

Rockhopper penguin (eudyptes chrysocome) bleaker island, falkland islands, inquisitive penguin looking into lens

A mixed Black Browed Albatross (Thalassarche melanophris) and Rockhopper Penguins (Eudyptes chrysocome) nesting colony on Westpoint island in the Falkland Islands off Argentina, in South America, being watched by a group on a wildlife tourist trip.

Rockhopper penguin (eudyptes chrysocome) new island, falkland islands, portrait.

Rockhopper penguin (eudyptes chrysocome) new island, falkland islands, portrait.

Rockhopper penguin (eudyptes chrysocome) bleaker island, falkland islands, view over colony.

Rockhopper penguin (eudyptes chrysocome) new island, falkland islands, pair amongst the rocks, at nesting site.

Rockhopper penguin (eudyptes chrysocome) bleaker island, falkland islands, close-up of head.

RockHopper Penguins (Eudyptes chrysocome) Isla de Los Estados (Staten Island), an Ecological and Historical Reserve has been off limits to tourism since 1923

Adult Southern Rockhopper Penguins (Eudyptes chrysocome chrysocome) in the Falkland Islands

Adult rockhopper penguin (Eudyptes chrysocome moseleyi) "hopping" on Nightingale Island in the Tristan da Cunha Island Group, South Atlantic Ocean

Adult rockhopper penguin (Eudyptes chrysocome moseleyi) going through a catastrophic molt on Nightingale Island in the Tristan da Cunha Island Group, South Atlantic Ocean

Adult Southern Rockhopper Penguins (Eudyptes chrysocome chrysocome) in the Falkland Islands

Adult Southern Rockhopper Penguins (Eudyptes chrysocome chrysocome) in the Falkland Islands

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.

Adult Southern Rockhopper Penguins (Eudyptes chrysocome chrysocome) in the Falkland Islands

Adult southern rockhopper penguin (Eudyptes chrysocome chrysocome) at breeding and molting colony on New Island in the Falkland Islands, South Atlantic Ocean

Adult Southern Rockhopper Penguins (Eudyptes chrysocome chrysocome) in the Falkland Islands

Rockhopper Penguin (Eudyptes chrysocome) (head detail) at Devil's Nose on New Island in the Falkland Islands, South Atlantic Ocean.

Adult Southern Rockhopper Penguins (Eudyptes chrysocome chrysocome) in the Falkland Islands

Rockhopper Penguin (Eudyptes chrysocome) pair at Devil's Nose on New Island in the Falkland Islands, South Atlantic Ocean.

Young rockhopper penguin (Eudyptes chrysocome moseleyi) molting on Nightingale Island in the Tristan da Cunha Island Group, South Atlantic Ocean

Adult Southern Rockhopper Penguins (Eudyptes chrysocome chrysocome) in the Falkland Islands

Adult rockhopper penguin (Eudyptes chrysocome chrysocome) at breeding and molting colony on New Island in the Falkland Islands, South Atlantic Ocean

Adult southern rockhopper penguin (Eudyptes chrysocome chrysocome) at breeding and molting colony on New Island in the Falkland Islands, South Atlantic Ocean

Adult southern rockhopper penguin (Eudyptes chrysocome chrysocome) at breeding and molting colony on New Island in the Falkland Islands, South Atlantic Ocean

Adult rockhopper penguins (Eudyptes chrysocome moseleyi) "hopping" on Nightingale Island in the Tristan da Cunha Island Group, South Atlantic Ocean

Adult Southern Rockhopper Penguins (Eudyptes chrysocome chrysocome) in the Falkland Islands

Adult rockhopper penguin (Eudyptes chrysocome chrysocome) at breeding and molting colony on New Island in the Falkland Islands, South Atlantic Ocean

Rockhopper Penguin (Eudyptes chrysocome) at Devil's Nose on New Island in the Falkland Islands, South Atlantic Ocean.

Adult southern rockhopper penguin (Eudyptes chrysocome chrysocome) at breeding and molting colony on New Island in the Falkland Islands, South Atlantic Ocean

Adult Southern Rockhopper Penguins (Eudyptes chrysocome chrysocome) in the Falkland Islands

Adult Southern Rockhopper Penguins (Eudyptes chrysocome chrysocome) in the Falkland Islands

Adult Southern Rockhopper Penguins (Eudyptes chrysocome chrysocome) in the Falkland Islands

Adult Southern Rockhopper Penguins (Eudyptes chrysocome chrysocome) in the Falkland Islands

Adult Southern Rockhopper Penguins (Eudyptes chrysocome chrysocome) in the Falkland Islands

Adult Southern Rockhopper Penguins (Eudyptes chrysocome chrysocome) in the Falkland Islands

Adult Southern Rockhopper Penguins (Eudyptes chrysocome chrysocome) in the Falkland Islands

Adult Southern Rockhopper Penguins (Eudyptes chrysocome chrysocome) in the Falkland Islands

Adult Southern Rockhopper Penguins (Eudyptes chrysocome chrysocome) in the Falkland Islands

Adult rockhopper penguin (Eudyptes chrysocome moseleyi) on Nightingale Island in the Tristan da Cunha Island Group, South Atlantic Ocean

Adult Southern Rockhopper Penguins (Eudyptes chrysocome chrysocome) in the Falkland Islands

Adult Southern Rockhopper Penguins (Eudyptes chrysocome chrysocome) in the Falkland Islands

Adult rockhopper penguin (Eudyptes chrysocome chrysocome) at breeding and molting colony on New Island in the Falkland Islands, South Atlantic Ocean

Adult Southern Rockhopper Penguins (Eudyptes chrysocome chrysocome) in the Falkland Islands

Adult Southern Rockhopper Penguins (Eudyptes chrysocome chrysocome) in the Falkland Islands

Rockhopper Penguin (Eudyptes chrysocome) pair at Devil's Nose on New Island in the Falkland Islands, South Atlantic Ocean.

Rockhopper Penguin (Eudyptes chrysocome) at Devil's Nose on New Island in the Falkland Islands, South Atlantic Ocean.

Adult Southern Rockhopper Penguins (Eudyptes chrysocome chrysocome) in the Falkland Islands

Adult Southern Rockhopper Penguins (Eudyptes chrysocome chrysocome) in the Falkland Islands

Rockhopper Penguin (Eudyptes chrysocome) pair at Devil's Nose on New Island in the Falkland Islands, South Atlantic Ocean.