What is a little penguin?
The little penguin is the smallest of the 17 penguin species and is the only one that nests along Australia’s mainland coast. These flightless seabirds are superbly adapted to the marine environment. Their wings have evolved into flippers with which they propel themselves, ‘flying’ underwater. On land they stand upright, walking or waddling awkwardly on their hind legs. Little penguins have a life expectancy of 6 or 7 years, although some survive for 20 years. A great place to see little penguins and learn about them is the Penguin Island Discovery Centre, which is just a short ferry ride across the Shoalwater Islands Marine Park in Rockingham. What do they look like? Little penguins are a bluish-grey colour, with a white underside and throat. They have a black bill, pale pink feet and silvery-grey eyes. The males are slightly bigger than the females, and have a deeper bill and a larger head. Adults stand about 40 centimetres tall and weigh about a kilogram. Where do they live? The lit
