Tiny penguin chick christened 'Bowie' just days before music legend's death

A newly hatched penguin chick has made headlines after it was named in honour of late musical superstar David Bowie, just days prior to his death.

Cincinnati Zoo’s blue penguin “Bowie”, hatched last Friday, received the title following a callout for suggestions on Facebook and Twitter on January 7.

While the winning suggestion was inspired by the musician’s 69^th birthday, the naming bears particular significance following Bowie’s death yesterday after an 18-month-battle with cancer.

Bowie is Cincinnati Zoo’s first “baby of 2016”, and the newest addition to the largest colony of little penguins in the United States.

Little penguins, also known in australia as fairy penguins, are typically found on the coastlines of southern Australia and New Zealand.