Gentoo Penguin

Gentoo Penguins are the world’s fastest underwater bird, swimming at speeds of up to 36km/h! Their wings are modified into powerful flippers to propel themselves forward.

When swimming, they tuck their feet tightly under their body, creating a streamlined shape to slice through water with top speeds. Gentoo Penguins use their long tail as a rudder for steering when they swim.

Gentoo Penguins can be easily identified by their bright reddish orange bills and a head marking that resembles a white headphone. They have the longest tail feathers of all penguins and they stick out like a brush.

In fact, Gentoos are classified as members of the brush-tailed penguins. Enjoy light-hearted moments as you watch them waddle, sweeping their tail feathers side to side!

Gentoo Penguins, as well as some other penguin species, do leap out of water, in the same way as dolphins — a behaviour is known as porpoising. Scientists believe that penguins porpoise to avoid predators.

Gentoo Penguins usually dive in shallow waters for fish, crustaceans, squids and krill. They can make up to a staggering 450 dives per day searching for food.

The male Gentoo Penguin is endearingly romantic. To impress a female, he searches painstakingly for the perfect proposal gift — a slightly flat, smooth pebble.

If the female likes it, she uses it to start building a nest, and the pair adds more pebbles to complete it.

Pebbles are great nesting materials as they allow ice and water to drain, keeping penguin eggs and hatchlings dry.

Finding that perfect proposal gift for the female Gentoo can be challenging. Pebbles may not be well-shaped or smooth enough. It is common for males to steal from other penguins, and vicious fights ensue.