YELLOW-EYED PENGUIN

Photographed at Oamaru, South Island, New Zealand, April, 2019

1279                   YELLOW-EYED PENGUIN                Megadyptes antipodes 

NEW ZEALAND                90

Known by the Maori name of Hoiho. Uncommon endemic. About 5000 birds breed and moult around southeastern South Island, Foreaux Strait, Stewart, Codfish, Campbell and Auckland islands. Mainly sedentary, but some disperse northwards to Cook Strait.

OTAGO SHAG

Photographed at Oamaru, South Island, New Zealand, April, 2019

1278                    OTAGO SHAG                   Leucocarbo chalconotus

NEW ZEALAND                89

Was formerly known as Stewart Island Shag but DNA testing led to them being split into Otago Shag (found on rocky outcrops off Otago Peninsula, including as far north as Oamaru) and Foveaux Shag(found in Foveaux Straits and Stewart Island). Species is dimorphic, with two plumages; roughly a quarter of individuals are pied and the rest, known as Bronze or Dark Shags, are dark all over; both morphs breed together.