Distinguishing features

Gentoos are easily recognised 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.

Photos of Gentoo penguins

Sub-species

P.p ellsworthii

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

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 behaviour

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 weighing 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.

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