Gentoo Penguin
Pygoscelis papua
The one with the orange bill, the white head band and the long tail.
Gentoos are easy to spot: a bright orange-red bill, orange feet and a white patch across the top of the head. They're the third-largest penguin, they live on sub-Antarctic islands and the Antarctic Peninsula, and they feed close to home, rarely going more than 20 km from shore.
On the conservation status
Doing well overall: about 387,000 breeding pairs, and the population may be growing, especially in the south of its range.
- Height
- 71–78 cm
- Weight
- 5–8 kg
- Lifespan
- 10–15 years in the wild
- Diet
- Krill and other crustaceans, squid, fish
- Eggs
- Two per nest
- Population
- About 387,000 breeding pairs
The good stuff.
Nests from whatever's around
Gentoos start building nests in September, on beaches or among tussock grass, out of whatever local plants and materials they can find.
Two eggs at a time
They lay two eggs, which take 34 to 37 days to hatch.
Penguin nurseries
At about 26 days old, the chicks gather in groups called crèches. They're ready to go to sea at 80 to 90 days old.
Staying close to shore
Gentoos feed inshore and rarely go more than 20 km from the coast. That means they fish in the same water as fishing boats, and some get caught in the nets.
The Falklands are gentoo headquarters
The Falkland Islands alone hold about 132,000 breeding pairs, spread across around 84 sites.
Small colonies
For penguins, gentoo colonies are small. The biggest ones hold only about 6,000 breeding pairs.
Wait, really?
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It's the third-largest penguin alive.
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Sea lions hunt them at sea. On land, skuas and striated caracaras go after their eggs and small chicks.
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In 2002 a harmful algal bloom poisoned many gentoos, and it took the population several years to recover.
What it sounds like
Loud, honking brays, often with the head thrown back.
We haven't found a recording we're allowed to share yet, so for now this one is a description.
Where you might see one
The Falkland Islands, South Georgia and the Antarctic Peninsula.
The trouble
- Getting caught in fishing nets, and competing with fisheries for food
- Oil spills, as oil exploration grows around the Falkland Islands
- Harmful algal blooms and disease outbreaks
- Disturbance from tourism at some colonies
One real thing
If you ever visit a penguin colony, keep your distance and follow the guides. Studies show that disturbing penguins can mean fewer chicks get raised.
More ways to help