Gentoo penguin

⭐ What Is a Gentoo Penguin?

The Gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua) is the third-largest penguin species, after Emperor and King penguins. Adults typically:

• Stand around 70–90 cm tall

• Weigh 4.5–8.5 kg, depending on age, sex, and season

They’re easy to recognise:

• Bright orange-red bill

• Distinctive white patch/“bonnet” above each eye, forming a cap across the head

• Pinkish feet and a long tail that sticks out more than in most penguins

They belong to the same genus as Adélie and Chinstrap penguins, forming the trio of “brush-tailed” penguins.

???? Where Gentoo Penguins Live & When to See Them

Gentoo penguins have a relatively wide distribution across Antarctic and subantarctic regions:

• Antarctic Peninsula, especially the milder northern and western coasts

• Subantarctic islands, including places like South Georgia, the Falkland Islands, and islands in the southern Indian and Atlantic Oceans

They prefer:

• Ice-free beaches, tussock slopes and rocky headlands

• Nesting areas close to the sea, but above the worst of the surf and storms

Best time to see them on cruises:
From November to March, during the austral summer, when Gentoos are breeding, raising chicks, and most active around colonies.

???? Life Cycle & Behaviour

Gentoo penguins are highly site-faithful; many return to the same nesting colony and even the same nest site year after year.

A typical season looks like this:

• Spring arrival (Oct–Nov): Adults return to colonies and pairs reunite, often with bowing displays and mutual calls.

• Nest building: They build low pebble nests or use small mounds of stones, grass and mud. Pebbles are valuable real estate and often “borrowed” from neighbours.

• Egg-laying: Usually two eggs are laid.

• Incubation: Both parents share incubation duties for about 34–37 days. 

• Chick stage: Chicks stay in the nest initially, then move into crèches (group nurseries) while parents forage.

• Fledging: By around 2–3 months, chicks develop waterproof plumage and head out to sea.

Gentoos are known for their relatively gentle but noisy colonies, filled with trumpeting calls, flipper-waving and occasional disputes over prime nests and the nicest pebbles.

???? Diet, Diving & Predators

Diet

Gentoo penguins are opportunistic feeders, with a diet that varies by region but usually includes:

• Krill

• Small fish

• Squid and other cephalopods

Diving & Swimming

They are record-breaking swimmers:

• Common swim speeds are high by penguin standards, and they can reach up to about 36 km/h underwater, making them the fastest underwater swimming birds known.

• They regularly dive to 170–200 m in search of food, and some reports suggest even deeper dives on occasion.

Predators

Their main threats are:

• At sea: Leopard seals and orcas

• On land / around colonies: Skuas and giant petrels, which prey on eggs and chicks

Adults have few land predators, but chicks and eggs are vulnerable if left unattended.