ANTARCTIC BIRDS
There is a surprising variety of bird species in Antarctica.
Penguins
There's no getting around penguins when photographing on the Antarctic Peninsula.
They are synonymous with Antarctica, in fact they are the heart and soul of the icecold continent.
It's hard not to love those fascinating seabirds and incredibly hard not to photograph them, over and over again.
Emperor, adélie, gentoo and chinstrap penguins
The emperor and the adelie penguins are true Antarctic residents, as they live on the continent all year round, but in spring other species of penguins appear for the breeding season, among those the gentoos and the chinstraps.
Occasionally stray macaroni and king penguins can be seen here and there as well.
Usually penguins are easily photographed as they have little or no have no fear of humans, making it possible to photograph their natural behaviour.
Penguins and their icebergs
Penguins are seabirds, spending two thirds of their lives in the freezing Southern Ocean surrounding Antarctica (with a few exceptions).
On occasion they do hang out on icebergs, which is a gift for a photographer.
PREDATORY BIRDS
Predatory birds are not native to Antarctica due to the extreme climate and lack of terrestrial prey, however they do appear for breeding in the short summer.
The predatory birds in Antarctica are tough hunters, true opportunists and extremely skilled survivors.
Among those predatory birds are the somehow uncanny and powerful southern giant petrels and the amazing and charismatic skuas.
The skuas are tough, they seem fearless and they are clever as few, they even hunt efficiently in pairs using diversion and ambush as a technique.
OTHER BIRD SPECIES
Obviously other bird species are present in some areas of Antarctica during the summer besides penguins.
Various albatrosses can be seen on lucky days while terns, snowy sheathbill, kelp gull, king cormorant, snow petrel, Wilson's storm petrel and a variety of other smaller petrels and birds seem to be always around.
Cape petrels defying gravity and rough sea in the southern Drake Passage.
