Photos

Cuverville Island or Île de Cavelier de Cuverville is a dark, rocky island lying in Errera Channel between Arctowski Peninsula and the northern part of Rongé Island, off the west coast of Graham Land/

The Gentoo Penguin is easily recognized by the wide white stripe extending like a bonnet across the top of its head. Chicks have grey backs with white fronts. Adult Gentoos reach a height of 51 to 90 cm making them the largest penguins outside of the two giant species, the Emperor Penguin and the King Penguin.

Males have a maximum weight of about 8.5 kg just before moulting, and a minimum weight of about 4.9 kg just before mating. For females the maximum weight is 8.2 kg just before moulting, but their weight drops to as little as 4.5 kg when guarding the chicks in the nest.Birds from the north are on average 700 g heavier and 10 cm taller than southern birds.They are the fastest underwater swimming penguins, reaching speeds of 36 km/h. The Gentoo is built for very cold weather environments, unlike its northern cousin the Magellanic Penguin, which is leaner and more mobile in terrestrial movement.

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.