Photographer with tripod, Gentoo Penguin colony, Cuverville Island, Antarctica.

A photographer with tripod explores a summer colony of Gentoo Penguins (Pygoscelis papua) on Cuverville Island, Antarctica. The adult Gentoo Penguin has a bright orange-red bill and a wide white stripe extending across the top of its head. Chicks have grey backs with white fronts. Of all penguins, Gentoos have the most prominent tail, which sweeps from side to side as they waddle on land, hence the scientific name Pygoscelis, "rump-tailed." As the the third largest species of penguin, adult Gentoos reach 51 to 90 cm (20-36 in) high. They are the fastest underwater swimming penguin, reaching speeds of 36 km per hour. The rocky Cuverville Island is in Errera Channel off the west coast of Graham Land, the north portion of the Antarctic Peninsula. The island was discovered by the Belgian Antarctic Expedition (1897-1899) under Adrien de Gerlache, who named it for J.M.A. Cavelier de Cuverville (1834-1912), a vice admiral of the French Navy. Cuverville Island or Île de Cavelier de Cuverville is located at 64 degrees 41 minutes South Latitude and 62 degrees 38 minutes West Longitude.

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Filename: 05ANT-10788_Gentoo-Colony_Cuverville-Island.jpg
Copyright: © Tom Dempsey / Photoseek.com
Image Size: 4500x3305 / 5.3MB; http://www.photoseek.com/; Animalia Antarctica Aves PhotoBest PublishedTomDempsey animal avian bird coast ice landscape mountain nature ocean outdoor people recreation sea sea life sports vertebrate weather wildlife animal
Contained in galleries: ANTARCTICA: favorites, ANTARCTICA: wildlife, icebergs, cruise ship, Antarctic Peninsula, Published images by Tom Dempsey

A photographer with tripod explores a summer colony of Gentoo Penguins (Pygoscelis papua) on Cuverville Island, Antarctica. The adult Gentoo Penguin has a bright orange-red bill and a wide white stripe extending across the top of its head. Chicks have grey backs with white fronts. Of all penguins, Gentoos have the most prominent tail, which sweeps from side to side as they waddle on land, hence the scientific name Pygoscelis, "rump-tailed." As the the third largest species of penguin, adult Gentoos reach 51 to 90 cm (20-36 in) high. They are the fastest underwater swimming penguin, reaching speeds of 36 km per hour. The rocky Cuverville Island is in Errera Channel off the west coast of Graham Land, the north portion of the Antarctic Peninsula. The island was discovered by the Belgian Antarctic Expedition (1897-1899) under Adrien de Gerlache, who named it for J.M.A. Cavelier de Cuverville (1834-1912), a vice admiral of the French Navy. Cuverville Island or Île de Cavelier de Cuverville is located at 64 degrees 41 minutes South Latitude and 62 degrees 38 minutes West Longitude.