Senses of yellow-eyed penguins / hoiho

The eyes are the keenest sense in penguins. A penguin’s eyes are adapted to see clearly underwater and in the air. Their eyes are the primary sense used to find prey and avoid predators.

Penguins have colour vision, and are sensitive to blue, green and violet light.

Hearing ability in penguins is good.

The olfactory lobe in a penguin’s brain is large, and it is thought that some penguins may use smell to help locate their food.

Taste is poorly developed in birds and is assumed to be the same in penguins, although limited research has been carried out.

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