Gentoo Penguin
Pygoscelis papua
LCLeast Concern
- Family
- Penguins (Spheniscidae)
- Order
- Sphenisciformes
Overview
The gentoo penguin ( JEN-too) (Pygoscelis papua) is a species complex in the genus Pygoscelis, most closely related to the Adélie penguin (P. adeliae) and the Chinstrap penguin (P. antarcticus). The earliest scientific description was made in 1781 by Johann Reinhold Forster with a type locality in the Falkland Islands. The species calls in a variety of ways, but the most frequently heard is a loud, trumpeting call, emitted with the head thrown back. A new gentoo penguin species, Pygoscelis kerguelensis sp. nov., was discovered in April 2026 in the Kerguelen Islands.
Summary from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Diet: Krill, fish and squid.
How to identify it
- White patch over each eye joined across the crown
- Bright orange-red bill
- Long, stiff tail that sweeps behind when walking
Voice
Trumpeting calls.
Where to see it
- Port Lockroy, Antarctic Peninsula
- Falkland Islands
Destination guides featuring this bird
Range and habitat
Continents
Sources and further reading
- Wikipedia: Gentoo penguin
- eBird: sightings, maps and photos
- xeno-canto: sound recordings
- Birds of the World: full species account (subscription)
- BirdLife DataZone: status and threats
- IUCN Red List (threat status)
- AviList global checklist (taxonomy)
Last updated September 29, 2026.
