Annual and Seasonal Variation in the Growth Rates of Young Little Penguins Eudyptula minor in Western Australia

Abstract

Four linear measurements and body mass were used to measure the growth of Little Penguin Eudytula minor nestlings on Penguin Island, Western Australia, from 1989 to 1991. In general, beak length and beak depth increasedmore slowly than flipper and tarsus lengths, and body mass increased rapidly. Growth rates did not differ significantly between years. However, second-hatched chicks grew more slowly than first-hatched chicks, especially in body mass, and were lighter at fledging.