Northern Rockhopper
Penguin
Meet the Northern rockhopper penguin!
Cody Maverick from Surfs Up
Northern Rockhopper Penguin
Lovelace from Happy Feet
Media Appearances, Personality, & Fun Facts
You might've seen a northern rockhopper penguin in the Sony pictures movie Surfs Up. Voiced by Shia LaBeouf, Cody Maverick is a lovable penguin who grows up surfing in the arctic. This movie helps bring awareness to this lovely species! That's not the only movie where a rockhopper shows up: In Happy Feet, we are shown the dangers of plastic pollution with the character Lovelace voiced by Robin Williams. There's a reason why these beautiful penguins show up so much in pop culture. These beautiful birds have lots of personality! According to the American Bird Conservancy, “Northern rockhopper penguins are scrappy, pugnacious birds. They slap each other with their flippers, jab each other with their bills, and squawk loudly while tussling for nesting sites, mating rights, and food.” These penguins love to have fun.
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Rockhopper's name comes from the fact that they hop from rock to rock and slide on their bellies to navigate rocky shores. These birds are adorable and at just 45-55 cm tall they are the smallest crested penguins. Unfortunately, these lovely penguins are endangered and their population is steadily decreasing. We're here to tell you why as well as show you how to help!
