Penguins are extremely social animals that gather in hundreds or thousands at a time. Their sociability leads to some cute interactions that are caught on camera for viewers to see. In this video by WooGlobe, two groups of Rockhopper penguins seem to stop for a quick chat with each other before going their separate ways. Read here to learn more about this species of penguins and how they communicate.
Rockhopper penguins move by hopping.
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Rockhopper Penguin Communication
Rockhopper penguins are a species native to sub-Antarctic islands in the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans, including the Falkland Islands, southern Chile, and southern Argentina. They get their name from the way that they move, literally hopping across rocks. As the areas they inhabit are rocky and have tough terrain, they use hopping rather than waddling to get around. Similar to other penguins, they nest in colonies. These colonies are dense, consisting of thousands of penguins. This makes communication among colony members extremely important for activities such as hunting and ensuring safety.
Similar to some other penguin species, rockhoppers are known for being very social and noisy. They are social and often move together, especially when traveling to and from the sea. These mini-flocks are what is seen in the video above, with two different groups bumping into each other. Penguins use different types of vocalizations, such as contact calls and display calls. Contact calls, which are likely heard in the video, are short and quick. This helps the penguins track each other and know each other’s whereabouts. Display calls, on the other hand, are more for asserting dominance and dividing territory. Some of the penguins in the video seem to stagger and switch groups, part of their social behavior. Given their social nature, it’s not uncommon for individuals to follow the dominant group.
Can Penguins Recognize Each Other?
Penguins are able to recognize the unique voices of individual colony members, even among thousands of others. Whether you call it friendship or not, the penguins look out for each other by checking in with each other. As seen in the video, the penguins seem to recognize each other and are putting out a call to clarify that they are not a threat. By frequently checking in through their calls, penguins avoid mistaking each other for rivals or threats and maintain harmony within the colony.
