Description
& Characteristics:
The Gentoo (jen-TOO) penguin has the widest range of distribution
of any penguin. However, the most significant populations
are concentrated on the Antarctic Peninsula and sub-antarctic
islands. Large breeding colonies of Gentoos are found on South
Georgia, the Falkland Islands and the Kerguelen Isles. Members
of the brush-tailed genus (Pygoscelis) which includes the
Adelies and the
Chinstraps,
Gentoo populations have suffered over the last century from
human depredation and loss of habitat but appear to be stabilizing
recently due to increased conservation efforts.
Gentoos
are distinguished from the smaller Adelie and Chinstrap species
by their bright red-orange bills and conspicuous white patches
behind their eyes. Long stiff tail feathers stick out behind
them as they walk. When swimming, these prominent tails are
often cocked up in the water, making them fairly easy to spot.
Gentoos
feed on Rock cod, Lantern fish, crustaceans (krill), amphipods
and cephalopods (mainly squid). They typically forage at sea
close to the colony, and thus their chicks are fed frequently.
Females tend to eat more krill than the males, while the males
tend to eat more fish. Gentoo penguins are gregarious at sea,
meaning they will form 'rafts' of hundreds of individuals
to aid in catching prey. Most prey is caught on shallow pursuit
dives lasting only half a minute, although they can dive to
at least 330 feet.
Roughly
circular in shape, Gentoo nests are found on rocky, uninhabited
shores; built out of whatever supplies are at hand, though
they seem to prefer grass and vegetation. Competition for
nesting materials can be fierce as they will aggressively
fight over stones or take stones and other material away from
other birds' nests. In September or October, Gentoos generally
lay two eggs three days apart from each other. The second
egg is often smaller than the first. Both eggs are then guarded
zealously by the parents until they hatch about 5 weeks later.
Chick survival is often dependent on the availability of food
and the lack of predators. If food is in short supply the
parents will preferentially feed the stronger of the two chicks
sacrificing the weaker one. The chicks stay in the nest for
about a month at which time they form nursery groups or 'creches',
while their parents hunt for food. After about 3 months (usually
in January) the chicks grow their adult feathers and are able
to head out on their own.
Gentoo
penguin eggs are taken by skuas.
Young birds are preyed upon by sheathbills,
caracaras (falcons), Kelp
gulls, Giant
petrels and feral cats, while older birds are taken by
Leopard seals.
Nests are often flattened by indifferent Elephant
seals as they move about the colonies.
