A Rockhopper x Royal Penguin Hybrid from Macquarie Island

Abstract

A specimen of Eudyptes penguin (Spheniscidae: Aves) originally collected in 1957 from North Head, Macquarie Island, after being identified as a Snares Penguin Eudyptes robustus Oliver 1953, has been re-identified as a hybrid between the Rockhopper Penguin E. chrysocome filholi Hutton 1878 and the Royal Penguin E. chrysolophus schlegeli Finsch 1876. Some facial identification features are discussed.