Rock hoppers are the smallest polar penguins with an average height of 20 inches. They have bright red eyes and a vivid
Magellanic penguins were seen in the Falklands at Volunteer Point. They live in burrows in the ground and are sub-Antarctic.
Albatrosses are legendary birds because of their great size and because they inhabit such remote and storm ridden seas. Black-browed are the most abundant and widespread.
Skua (right) are enthusiastic predators on penguins and would follow our ship and fearlessly perch around our ship to check out human offerings!
Chinstrap penguins are named for the thin black line that crosses the chin and runs back under the eye to the nape.
Macaroni penguins have a golden crest joined in a broad band across the forehead sweeping into splendidly drooping plumes-think Dagwood!
It was fascinating to watch the Blue-Eyed Shag or Antarctic Cormorant feed their young. It gives a new meaning to the term “deep throat”. The baby birds go nearly down the entire throat of the parent to eat the regurgitated food. Yuk!
Gentoo penguins have a white bonnet eye to eye and bright red-orange bill.
Adélie penguins are the only truly Antarctic penguin that we saw. They are the classic “little man in evening dress” that walks well on ice and snow and even toboggans on its belly when it chooses!
Kings are a sub-Antarctic species we saw for the second time at Volunteer Point in the Falklands. (The last time we travelled over land in an SUV for 4 hours.) Tall and upright on land they have striking orange throats and ear patches. Over 37 inches tall they are second only to the Emperor penguins (42”) in height.
Yellow crest ending in a black puffy plume at the back of the head. They are true to their name, living and leaping around rocks by the sea. We saw them at New Island in the Falklands. They were adorable to watch.
