I'm recently back from an expedition cruise to the Antarctic peninsula, and of course penguins were highlights. Here is my favorite photo of each species seen:
Adelie Penguins Pygoscelis adeliae are the smallest species of penguin seen, and are the classic cute black-and-white species.
Chinstrap Penguins Pygoscelis antarcticus are one of the more southerly breeding penguins, and I love how the name is so descriptive.
I like this Gentoo Penguin Pygoscelis papua photo especiallly because it shows the "brushtail" aspect of this bird.
I was in Covid quarantine when the Zodiac landings on the South Georgia King Penguin Aptenodytes patagonicus colonies happened, so I had to settle for this cool swimming photo.
This lonely Macaroni Penguin Eudyptes chrysolophus was seen in a Chinstrap Penguin colony where it has been seen for several years. No one knows why it is here, with no con-specific birds for breeding.
Magellanic Penguins Spheniscus magellanicus are burrow nesting birds that breed farther north than the other species seen here.
This a poor photo of an Emperor Penguin Aptenodytes forsteri when we saw the birds seen at a distance in failing late evening light.
Southern Rockhopper Penguins Eudyptes chrysocome are aptly named, as they really hop from rock to rock to get to their nests high up on rocky hillsides.
Penguins are cool. Stay tuned for a series of Albatross, Petrel and Caracara photos.
Good birding and good day!