Rockhopper Penguins, Saunders Island.
Saunders Island in the north-west of the archipelago is the place to find some of the most iconic vistas of the Falkland Islands. Dramatic sweeping shorelines characterise the second largest of the offshore islands. Petite and playful Rockhopper Penguins are easy to spot on Saunders Island, thanks to their vibrant red eyes and yellow eyebrows framed by spiky gold plumes. These agile birds hop up steep rock faces and shower in sparkling streams. A 2010 research study counted about 320,000 Rockhopper Penguin pairs in the Falklands, despite 20th-century population declines linked to food availability. These penguins typically feed on crustaceans, cephalopods and fish.
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