Deriving their name from the strap like line that circles from each eye down under their chin, Chinstrap penguins are one of noisiest and more aggressive penguins.

Fights among colonies break out fairly regularly and males will often kick out other males if they prefer a certain area. Males arrive on land first and will wait several day for their partner.

However, if she does not turn up, males will choose another female to mate with. If the previous partner does eventually show up, large fights ensue in which female penguins often chuck their opponents down hillsides.

Chinstrap penguins seem to prefer slightly warmer water as they only inhabit he outlying islands off the Antarctica Peninsula. A particularly good place to see them is on Deception Island where there is a colony of nearly a million!

Most Antarctica cruises will stop at Deception Island and you’ll have a good opportunity to see these noisy birds up close.

Chinstrap Penguins Facts

Size and weight: Chinstrap penguin average around 70 cm tall and usually weigh around 4.5 kg (10lb).

Feeding: They feed almost exclusively on krill and can dive up to 80 meters. They will eat fish occasionally, but only if krill is not available.

Breeding Season: The breeding season is between late November and March – the high summer.

World Population: There are at least 7.5 million Chinstrap penguins and colonies seem to be increasing.

Distribution: Chinstraps have a circumpolar distribution, usually on islands off the peninsula or in Southern South America. They have been found in New Zealand also.

Conservation Status: Protected by the Antarctic treaty, Chinstrap penguins have a conservation status of least concern.

Predators: Killer whales and Leopard seals are their main predators. Seabirds such as Skuas will often eat chick eggs.

Macaroni penguins derive their name from their yellow plumage that can be seen above each eye.

The name Macaroni stems from the 18th century term ‘Macaroni Dandies’ which was a name given to people who dressed flamboyantly.

Similar in size to the Chinstrap penguin, Macaronis are not found on the Antarctic continent proper, instead they inhabit the warmer surrounding islands such as South Georgia and Heard Island.

Breeding season for Macaroni penguins is between December and January when their eggs are laid – hatching a month later. The female is usually the main hunter during this period until the chick reaches several weeks old whereby both parent leave to hunt daily.

Macaronis are exceptional swimmers and a recent study showed that they can swim up to 10,000 kilometers throughout the year. The male is slightly bigger and stronger than the female, bu the difference is minimal. Both have the same appearance.

Macaroni Penguin Facts

Size and weight: Roughly 70 cm tall and weigh about 4 kg (9lb).

Feeding: Macaroni’s feed mainly on Krill, but also eat fish when given the chance.

Breeding Season: Usually in December, Macaroni penguins usually spend less than a month ashore each year.

World Population: There an estimated 9 million breeding pairs! However, many colonies are in decline sadly.

Distribution: Most Macaroni penguins are found in the sub-Antarctic Islands like South Georgia. However, they have been found in New Zealand and Australia also.

Conservation Status: Protected by the Antarctic treaty, Macaroni penguins have a conservation status of least concern.

Predators: Killer whales and Leopard seals are their main predators. Seabirds like Skuas will regularly eat chick eggs.

Along with Emperor penguins, Adelie penguins are the most southerly breeding penguin on earth. Named after the wife of French explorer Dumont d’Urville who discovered the penguins in 1840. 

Adelie penguins are one of the smallest penguins in the Antarctic with an average height of 68 cm. Adelie colonies are loud and messy affairs. They can be heard and smelt long before they are seen.

During the winter the birds migrate to the outlying pack ice areas where temperatures are slightly warmer and in summer they migrate back towards the continent. Because of this, Adelie penguins often have to travel up to 100 km in the spring to find a nesting ground.

Males will arrive first at nesting sites and present females with gifts of pebbles when they arrive to attract their attention. 

Strangely, mating pairs will often stay together for 5 or 6 years before separating. Parents will stay with their chicks for three weeks before they leave for the open water.

Adelie Penguin Facts

Size and weight: Adelie penguins are roughly 65-70 cm tall and weigh 5 kg (11 lb).

Feeding: They eat krill mostly but will also eat fish and small squid. Adelie penguins generally only dive to about 20 meters.

Breeding Season: Between November and February. Colonies are very large and noisy.

World Population: There is an estimated 5 million Adelie penguins. This number seems to be increasing.

Distribution: Adelie penguins have a circumpolar distribution. Generally are found on pack ice near the coast.

Conservation Status: Adelie penguins have recently been classed as ‘near threatened’ by the IUCN due to climate change.

Predators: Leopard seals are their main predators. Chicks are often preyed upon by Skuas.

With an average height of just 55 cm, Rockhopper penguins are the smallest penguin species in the Antarctic region.

They are one of two species of crested penguins and their red eyes, orange beak and yellow line of plumage make them quite distinct.

Because Rockhopper penguins prefer rocky areas, they cannot slide on their bellies like other penguins, instead they must hop and jump everywhere.

There is an argument to suggest that Rockhopper penguins can be separated into three distinct species – Southern, Eastern and Northern, however, many researches disagree on this.

The Southern Rockhopper penguin is the species found in the Antarctic region and breeds on the Falklands Islands. Argentina and Chile are also good places to see them. 

In the breeding season, Rockhopper penguins gather in large numbers along rocky and grassy shorelines. They like to build burrows in the long tussock grasses near shore and tend to return to the same beach and nest each year.

Rockhopper Penguin Facts

Size and weight: Rockhopper’s are the smallest types of penguin with an average height of 55 cm and weight of 2.5 kg (7 lb).

Feeding: Rockhopper’s mainly feed on krill but will also eat small fish, squid and crabs.

Breeding Season: December to March. Usually 2 eggs are laid and one will be smaller.

World Population: One of the most common penguins in the world with an estimated population of 9 million breeding pairs. Population is declining rapidly however, and scientists do not know why.

Distribution: Usually found in the sub-Antarctica Islands, particularly on Heard Island and South Georgia.

Conservation Status: Because of the rapid decline in population, Rockhopper penguins are now considered endangered.

Predators: Their main predators are Leopard seals and Fur seals. eggs are often eaten by Skuas and Kelp gulls.

Gentoos are the most northerly living Antarctic penguin and tend to be less noisy and aggressive than other small penguin species. Compared to Chinstraps and Adelie’s, a colony of Gentoo’s are quite laid back!

Gentoo actually means ‘turban’ and refers to the white patch above the penguins eyes. Gentoos are found on many sub-Antarctic islands such as South Georgia, however, they also occupy beaches as far down as the peninsula. 

Unlike other small penguin species, Gentoos will stay with their chosen mate all year-round.

Gentoo penguin will stay with their chick for around 8 weeks before heading to sea. If a pair lose their chick early on they will usually lay another egg.

During breeding season, Gentoo penguins will generally head inland slightly. However, to ease the burden of having to walk back and forth to the sea, Gentoo’s will all usually use the same path, which over time, wears the path down and makes it much easier to walk along.

Gentoo Penguin Facts

Size and weight: One of the taller penguin species with an average height of 70 cm and weight of 5 kg (12 lb).

Feeding: Gentoo penguins are opportunistic feeders and will eat krill, fish, crab and squid depending on what is to hand.

Breeding Season: December to March.

World Population: There is a rough estimate of about 385,000 breeding pairs.

Distribution: Most Gentoo penguins can be found in only 4 locations – the Falkland Islands, South Shetland Islands, South Georgia and the Antarctic Peninsula.

Conservation Status: Because scientists are unsure whether numbers are declining, the species is classified as ‘near threatened.

Predators: Killer whales and Leopard seals are their main predators. Skuas and Kelp gulls prey on the Gentoo eggs.