Gentoo Penguin - Pygoscelis Papua Facts, Information and Pictures
Gentoo Penguin - Pygoscelis Papua Facts And Information
Distinguishing features
Gentoos are easily recognized by the wide white stripe extending like a bonnet across the top of their heads and their orange/red beaks and feet.
Chicks have grey backs with white fronts.
Sub-species
Two sub-species are recognised - P. p. papua and the smaller P.p. ellsworthii.
Height & Weight
Adult Gentoos reach a height of 75 to 90 cm. Males have their maximum weight of about 8 kg just before moulting and their minimum weight of about 5.5kg just before mating. For females, the maximum weight is 7.5kg just before moulting but their weight drops to below 5 kg when guarding the chicks in the nest.
Breeding locations
map of breeding locations
Gentoos breed on many sub-Antarctic Islands. The main colonies are on the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and Kerguelen Islands; smaller populations are found on Macquarie Island, Heard Islands, South Shetland Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula. The total breeding population is estimated to be over 300,000 pairs.
On the map the pale yellow dots indicate the breeding areas of the sub-species P. p. papua and the orange dots those of the P. p. ellsworthii sub-species.
Nesting behavior
Nests are usually made from a roughly circular pile of stones and can be quite large, 20 cm high and 25 cm in diameter. Two eggs are laid both weighings around 130 g. The parents share incubation, changing duty daily. The eggs hatch after 34 to 36 days. The chicks remain in the nests for about 30 days before forming creches. The chicks moult into sub-adult plumage and go out to sea at about 80 to 100 days.
Principal diet
Gentoos live mainly on crustaceans such as krill with fish making up only about 15% of the diet.
Alternative names
The Gentoo penguin is known in some places as the Johnny penguin. It has also been called Rockhopper or Jackass, but this is only in confusion with other species.
The Gentoo Penguin chicks are so adorable. I couldn't stop taking photos of them
Gentoo penguins look very similar from the time they hatch until their first molt which occurs at around 14 months. Chicks have downy-gray feathers and a weak, dull-colored bill. The white wedges around the eyes are noticeable at a young age; however, they are not as well-defined or connected along the top of their head like the adults.
Gentoo penguin chick dining out.
#gentoopenguin #bird #nature #birdtours #bluewrenbirdtours #birdphotography #nuts_about_birds
Distinguishing features
Gentoos are easily recognized by the wide white stripe extending like a bonnet across the top of their heads and their orange/red beaks and feet.
Chicks have grey backs with white fronts.
Sub-species
Two sub-species are recognised - P. p. papua and the smaller P.p. ellsworthii.
Height & Weight
Adult Gentoos reach a height of 75 to 90 cm. Males have their maximum weight of about 8 kg just before moulting and their minimum weight of about 5.5kg just before mating. For females, the maximum weight is 7.5kg just before moulting but their weight drops to below 5 kg when guarding the chicks in the nest.
Breeding locations
map of breeding locations
Gentoos breed on many sub-Antarctic Islands. The main colonies are on the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and Kerguelen Islands; smaller populations are found on Macquarie Island, Heard Islands, South Shetland Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula. The total breeding population is estimated to be over 300,000 pairs.
On the map the pale yellow dots indicate the breeding areas of the sub-species P. p. papua and the orange dots those of the P. p. ellsworthii sub-species.
Nesting behavior
Nests are usually made from a roughly circular pile of stones and can be quite large, 20 cm high and 25 cm in diameter. Two eggs are laid both weighings around 130 g. The parents share incubation, changing duty daily. The eggs hatch after 34 to 36 days. The chicks remain in the nests for about 30 days before forming creches. The chicks moult into sub-adult plumage and go out to sea at about 80 to 100 days.
Principal diet
Gentoos live mainly on crustaceans such as krill with fish making up only about 15% of the diet.
Alternative names
The Gentoo penguin is known in some places as the Johnny penguin. It has also been called Rockhopper or Jackass, but this is only in confusion with other species.
The Gentoo Penguin chicks are so adorable. I couldn't stop taking photos of them
Gentoo penguins look very similar from the time they hatch until their first molt which occurs at around 14 months. Chicks have downy-gray feathers and a weak, dull-colored bill. The white wedges around the eyes are noticeable at a young age; however, they are not as well-defined or connected along the top of their head like the adults.
Gentoo penguin chick dining out.
#gentoopenguin #bird #nature #birdtours #bluewrenbirdtours #birdphotography #nuts_about_birds
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