Cincinnati Zoo welcomes first baby animal of 2016 and the adorable new penguin is named after David Bowie

A newborn penguin chick has been named 'Bowie' after the musician David Bowie
The baby known penguin hatched at 6am Friday weighing 46 grams
The singer Bowie turned 69 January 8, and released a new album, 'Blackstar'

By Regina F. Graham For Dailymail.com and Associated Press

Published: 10 January 2016 |

Having already earned a measure of 'Fame' with the Cincinnati Zoo's first animal birth of 2016, a newborn penguin chick has been named 'Bowie.'

The zoo says the baby known as a blue or fairy penguin hatched at 6am Friday, weighing 46 grams.

Friday was both David Bowie's and Elvis Presley's birthday, and the zoo says there was a lot of support for the Elvis name.

But the zoo already has a king penguin named for 'the King,' so 'Bowie' was the choice for the new arrival.

Baby Bowie: The Cincinnati Zoo has just welcomed its first birth of 2016 with a newborn penguin chick that has been named Bowie (above) after the legendary musician David Bowie

The zoo says the baby known as a blue or fairy penguin hatched at 6am Friday, weighing 46 grams

Friday was both David Bowie's and Elvis Presley's birthday, and the zoo says there was a lot of support for the Elvis name

Director Thane Maynard says the year's first baby is fitting since the zoo celebrates 'Penguin Days' in January and February.

The singer Bowie turned 69 January 8, and released a new album, 'Blackstar.'

It's unclear if the talented artist knows about the new penguin who is named after him.

According to the zoo's website, they have the largest colony of little penguins in the country.

'We now have 33 little penguins. Four chicks have hatched in the current breeding season, and there are still seven eggs in the exhibit,' bird keeper Jennifer Gainer said.

But the zoo already has a king penguin named for 'the King,' so 'Bowie' was the choice for the new arrival

The singer Bowie turned 69 January 8, and released a new album, 'Blackstar.' It's unclear if the talented artist knows about the new penguin who is named after him

Little penguins are the smallest of all penguins and are designed to swim and not fly.

They spend most of their days searching for small fish in shallow waters close to the shore.

In addition, they usually come ashore at night once predators, including seagulls ans snakes, are less active.

The tiny birds, who can live up to 25 years in captivity, nest under trees, in rock crevices, in caves or in burrows.

Unlike king penguins, little penguins prefer milder temperatures.

It's unlikely that visitors to the zoo will see the new chicks and the rest of the colony until the spring, according to zoo officials.

According to zoo officials, four chicks hatched in the current breeding season, and there are still seven eggs left to hatch in the exhibit. Pictured above is Bowie's egg

source