Gentoo Penguin

Antarctica’s penguins are one of the top reasons why people desire to travel to Antarctica. On the White Continent, you will certainly see hundreds of penguins and the wildlife of the region is remarkable. Though there are five different species of penguin that we encounter on our voyages, the sassy, funny, and amorous Gentoo Penguin is always a guest favorite and it’s not hard to see why. Let’s take a closer look at this charismatic creature.

Gentoo penguin with its chicks nest at Base Gonzales Videla

Gentoo Penguin Quick Overview

Questions Guests Ask About the Gentoo Penguin

Where Does the Gentoo Penguin Live?

Gentoo penguins habitat is usually the flat, rocky beaches, cliffs, and coastal plains. Major breeding colonies are found in the Antarctic Peninsula, Falkland Islands, South Georgia, and the South Shetland Islands. They are native to the region and are not found elsewhere, though they can travel dozens of miles for food. If seeing one of those lovely seabirds in the wild is on your bucket list, why not see it in one of our next excursions? Discover all the promotions available on Polar Latitudes Expeditions small ship cruises to Antarctica.

What Does a Gentoo Penguin Eat?

The gentoo penguin diet is predominantly on krill, fish, crustaceans and squids. They have tongues covered in barbs, which allow them to grip food and swallow it down.

What Does a gentoo Penguin Look Like?

This coastal penguin of the Southern Hemisphere is easily identified by the wide white stripe resembling a hood between the eyes, its black back and head, white chest, the bright red beak, and bright reddish-orange bills and feet. They also have a very long tail, which is the longest of all penguin species. Also, their appearance is known to be quite peculiar (and can often warrant many laughs from guests) when they go through their yearly ‘catastrophic’ molt. While they are molting, they cannot swim as they are not ‘waterproofed’.

How Big Is a Gentoo Penguin?

These lovely creatures are around 90 cm in height and weigh up to 8.5 kg. They are the third-largest penguin species after the emperor and king penguins.

How Fast Can a Gentoo Penguin Swim?

They are the fastest swimmers among penguin species, capable of reaching speeds of up to 36 km/h (~20 mph). They can dive to depths of 600 feet and have been observed diving around 450 times daily for food, remaining underwater for up to seven minutes.

How Many Years Can They Live in the Wild?

Gentoo penguin lifespan usually ranges from 15 to 20 years.

Who Are Their Main Predators?

Gentoo penguin predators include killer whales and leopard seals. Seabirds such as Skuas and Giant Petrels are known to steal gentoo eggs and chicks when they can.

How Do They Nest?

Gentoo penguins nest in a very particular way. They build their nests from pebbles, rocks, moss, and feathers, with the females usually laying two eggs and incubating them for 34 to 37 days. They are typically found in shallow coastal areas along rocky or grassy terrain – never on snow or ice. They use rocks as a token of affection, presenting them to potential mates to woo them, and once they have chosen a partner, gentoos usually mate with the same one each year. They rear two chicks each season, unlike other penguin species, which usually raise only one.

Are They Endangered?

Besides their population being stable and currently listed as ‘Least Concern’ by the IUCN, other species, such as the Macaroni Penguin and Emperor Penguin, face risks with their populations decreasing and are considered by the IUCN as ‘Vulnerable’ and ‘Near Threatened’, respectively.

Males offer pebbles to females to win them over

How Many of These 10 Gentoo Penguin Facts Did You Already Know?

1. Their colonies are large, but still, those animals are quite territorial regarding their nests.
2. Gentoo penguin sounds consist of honks used to communicate with their mates or chicks.
3. Baby gentoo penguins have grey or greyish-brown feathers, with white underparts.
4. The gentoo penguin life cycle is composed of: breeding, nesting, incubation, chick rearing, and moulting.
5. These seabirds are the fastest swimming penguin species.
6. Gentoo penguins range around the Antarctic and Sub-Antarctic regions.
7. They lay two eggs, and both the male and female take turns incubating them.
8. It inhabits ice-free surfaces on the Antarctic Peninsula and the surrounding islands.
9. It prefers to build its nest with quite large stones among grass mounds.
10. These seabirds are known for having a rapid metabolism and defecate approximately every 20 minutes.