Populations are believed to have declined during the last few decades of the twentieth century,[5] and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has listed it as being "endangered".

It has bluish-black to jet black upper parts and white underparts, and a broad, bright yellow eyebrow-stripe which extends over the eye to form a short, erect crest.

The only recent study conducted on the Antipodes Islands focused on aspects of the mate choice.

On the Bounty Islands, Erect-crested penguins breed in large mixed colonies with Salvin's albatross.

Erect-crested penguins breed in two-egg clutches from the months between September and late January.