description Gentoo Penguin Overview
The gentoo penguin is a species of penguin in the genus Pygoscelis and is the third-largest living penguin after the emperor and king penguins. Adults are recognizable by a white marking extending across the top of the head, an orange-red bill, and pale feet. The species breeds in colonies on the Antarctic Peninsula and numerous sub-Antarctic islands, feeding mainly on fish, krill, and squid in surrounding waters.
help Gentoo Penguin FAQ
What is the gentoo penguin's scientific name?
The gentoo penguin is Pygoscelis papua, one of the three Pygoscelis penguins ([Australian Antarctic Program](https://www.antarctica.gov.au/about-antarctica/animals/penguins/gentoo-penguin/?ftag=MSF0951a18)). It is the third-largest living penguin after the emperor penguin and king penguin.
How can I identify a gentoo penguin?
Look for the white marking that runs across the top of the head, plus an orange-red bill and pale feet. Those features help separate it from the darker-headed Adélie and chinstrap penguins, its close relatives.
Where do gentoo penguins breed?
Major populations breed in the Falkland Islands, South Georgia, and around the Antarctic Peninsula ([Australian Antarctic Program](https://www.antarctica.gov.au/about-antarctica/animals/penguins/gentoo-penguin/?ftag=MSF0951a18)). They usually nest in rocky coastal colonies with access to nearby feeding water.
What do gentoo penguins eat and how do they find food?
Their diet includes krill and fish, which they catch by diving and swimming from the colony. Compared with Adélie and chinstrap penguins, gentoos often forage closer to shore, a useful adaptation around their breeding sites.
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