Fishing excursions may be up to 200 kilometres, but most feeding is done within fifteen kilometres of their nesting site. Little Penguins usually fish within five metres of the surface, although they have been known to dive to sixty metres. Breeding varies from year to year. At Penguin Island in Western Australia courtship starts between February and April. Two eggs are laid between April and August though usually only one chick survives, depending on food availability.
Penguins have an annual moult, which takes about fifteen days.
During this time they are unable go to sea, because they have lost their waterproofing. This is a very stressful time for a penguin, during which they retire to their burrows or shelters and fast. Their natural predators include sharks and seals. Threats Disturbance to their ocean and beach habitats effects both the survival and breeding of Little Penguins. On land, predation and disturbance by cats, dogs and foxes, as well as careless recreational use of beaches by people, seriously effects Little Penguin survival.