Derivation
Pygoscelis - Gk, pygos, elbow; Gk, oscelos, leg: papua - a mistake on the part of Forster, in that it was incorrectly reported (by Sonnerat) to be from (Papua) New Guinea
Antarctica (B), Argentina, Falkland Islands (Malvinas) (B), French Southern Territories (B), Heard Island and McDonald Islands (B), South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (B).
Vagrant to Australia, New Zealand, South Africa (B), St Helena.
Food
Fish, squid and crustaceans, taken by pursuit-diving, the depth being dependent on the type of prey.
Voice
Various loud crowing or trumpeting calls and grunts. Quite hisses. Calling mainly around breeding grounds and predominantly associated with agonistic and sexual behaviours. Small chicks beg with 'cheeping' sound, and a modulated whistle.
Gentoo Penguin (papua) [XC540765]
by Fabrice Schmitt from Cuverville Island, Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica (call)
Gentoo Penguin (Pygoscelis papua) [XC540766]
by Fabrice Schmitt from Cuverville Island, Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica (call)
Breeding Season (Guide)
Does not breed in Australia. Breeds mostly on Antarctic continent and sub-Antarctic Islands (September - October, earlier in subantarctic and Antarctic).
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Nest
On the ground, composed of grass, leaves, twigs and pebbles. In colonies.
Eggs (Guide)
2 - 4, usually 2; not glossy, greenish-white with white chalky coating; rounded or subspherical; about 62 - 76 x 53 - 63 mm. Incubation: about 35 - 36 days; by both sexes.
Young
Semi-altricial, nidicolous. Fledging 80 - 100 days. Fed on shrimp and squid by regurgitation.
Subspecies
The following 2 subspecies are recognised:
papua (Forster, 1781) - Sub-antarctic Zone on Marion, Prince Edward Island, Iles Crozet, Iles Kerguelen, Heard, Macquarie, Staten, Falkland islands, South Georgia.
ellsworthi Murphy, 1947 - In Antarctic Zone on South Sandwich, South Orkeny and South Shetland islands and on the Antarctic Peninsula to about 65° south.
Similar Species
Adelie Penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae)
Similar size. Has a shorter, black bill. Lack the white eye patches.
Compare Images
The Field Guide to the Birds of Australia Pizzey, G., and Knight, E., 1997, Angus & Robertson, Sydney ISBN 0 207 19691 5
Field Guide to Australian Birds Morecombe, M., 2000, Steve Parish Publishing Pty Ltd. ISBN 1 876282 10 X
Field Guide to the Birds of Australia Simpson, K., and Day, N., 1999, 6th Edition, Viking ISBN 0 670 87918 5
Reader's Digest Complete Book of Australian Birds 1988, 2nd Edition, Reader's Digest ISBN 0 949819 99 9
What Bird is That? 1984, Revised Edition, Angus & Robertson, Sydney ISBN 0 207 14846 5
Handbook of Australian, New Zealand & Antarctic Birds 1990 - , Oxford University Press, Melbourne ISBN 0 19 553244 9
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