What physical feature is described as the most defining characteristic of the Hoiho?
Answer
The pale yellow iris encircled by a sweeping band of yellow feathers
The most unmistakable identification mark for the Yellow-Eyed Penguin is centered entirely around its ocular region. It possesses a striking, pale yellow iris, which contrasts sharply with the surrounding plumage. This eye is further framed by a unique feature: a distinct band of yellow feathers that originates above the eye and sweeps gracefully backward toward the nape of the neck. This sweeping arc is often likened to a 'tiara' or 'halo' and is configurationally unique among penguin species, serving as the primary visual identifier for the Hoiho.
Related Questions
What is the Māori name for the Yellow-Eyed Penguin?What is the typical height range for adult Yellow-Eyed Penguins?What physical feature is described as the most defining characteristic of the Hoiho?What color are the dorsal feathers of the adult Hoiho?How does the chest coloration of juvenile Hoiho differ from adults?What feature do Yellow-Eyed Penguins lack compared to penguins in the genus *Eudyptes*?Which physical adaptation reflects the Hoiho's use of dense coastal shrubbery for nesting?How do the average weights of male and female Yellow-Eyed Penguins typically compare?How is the arc of yellow feathers extending from the Hoiho's eye sometimes described?In comparison to other penguins of similar size, what is notable about the Hoiho's bill?