Photo by daisygilardini Two gentoo penguins court during a...

Photo by daisygilardini | Two gentoo penguins court during a beautiful sunrise in the Antarctic Peninsula. Gentoos start breeding anywhere from two to four years old. Mating season depends on the colony location. They start breeding in the subantarctic Crozet Islands in the southern winter, in June and July, but on the Antarctic Peninsula they have to wait until the end of October.
Courtship is characterized by mutual displays of trumpeting and bowing. Males will offer females pebbles for their nests. The biggest nest can include more than 1,700 pebbles. The process involves a lot of stealing from neighbors’ nests—a behavior that is very entertaining to observe!
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