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Exploring amid the icebergs, glaciers and ice floes of the White Continent you find an abundance of wildlife. And although it’s thought too cold for plant life to flourish, there are several species of flora to see on an Antarctica expedition.

Antarctica's Wondrous Wildlife

Antarctica thrives with incredible wildlife. Below are the best times of the year to look for these awe-inspiring possible sights.

November

Seabird courting season end of month
King penguins lay eggs in South Georgia
Fur seals mating in South Georgia

Penguins in the Antarctic Peninsula

Adélie Penguins – Engage in courtship displays, such as stone gifting to potential partners for nest building.
Gentoo Penguins – Begin assembling nests and courting mates with trumpet calls and head bobbing.
Chinstrap Penguins – Courtship rituals involve vocalizations and impressive displays of affection, using small stones as building blocks for nests.

Seals in the Antarctic Peninsula

Weddell Seals – Females can be seen caring for pups born in October.
Crabeater Seals – Their pristine white coats blend perfectly with the snow, so look closely to find them lounging.
Leopard Seals – After 9 months of gestation, females give birth to a single pup on a snow-covered shore or on sea ice.
Antarctic Fur Seals – Once males have established their territories, females begin to arrive to give birth.

Whales in the Antarctic Peninsula

Humpback Whales – These gentle giants are famous for breaching in acrobatic movements and resonating vocalizations.
Minke Whales – This is the beginning of their return to Antarctic feeding grounds after long migrations.

Seabirds in the Antarctic Peninsula

Petrels – These graceful fliers begin forming flocks and selecting nesting sites amid the Peninsula.
Skuas – Large and powerful, they are often seen patrolling penguin colonies on the hunt for unattended eggs.
Antarctic Terns – Elegant and vibrant, they are most often spotted performing aerial displays overhead.

December

Blue petrels along the Drake Passage
Penguins hatching end of month
Humpback whales near the Peninsula

Penguins in the Antarctic Peninsula

Adélie Penguins – Nest on rocky shores, with eggs hatching and chicks appearing in the Peninsula.
Gentoo Penguins – Parents raise their fluffy young, bustling through the penguin highways to feed them in the Peninsula and South Georgia.
Chinstrap Penguins – As the eggs begin to hatch in the Peninsula, these colonies are thriving with life among the nests.

Penguins in South Georgia

King Penguins – Massive colonies with thousands of these majestic birds, many tending to their fluffy brown chicks, can be seen in South Georgia.
Macaroni Penguins – Nesting among the rocky slopes of South Georgia, their distinctive golden crests shine in the summer light.

Seals in the Antarctic Peninsula

Weddell Seals – Some pups are still seen and actively exploring their environment, venturing further from the mothers.
Leopard Seals – Patrol penguin colonies and ice floes, on the hunt for prey.

Seals in South Georgia

Antarctic Fur Seals – It’s the height of breeding season, with mothers and their playful pups on the beaches.
Southern Elephant Seals – Dominant males finish their breeding battles while younger seals and pups are active along the shores.

Whales in the Antarctic Peninsula and South Georgia

Humpback Whales – Return to Antarctic waters to feed on rich blooms of krill.
Minke Whales – These agile swimmers are frequently spotted near the ice edge.
Orcas (Killer Whales) – Rare sightings occur, so when you see one, you know it’s a truly special moment.
Southern Right Whales – Occasionally are seen in the waters around South Georgia.

Seabirds in the Antarctic Peninsula

Snow Petrels – These pure white birds almost blend into the icy landscapes as they soar above.
Albatrosses – Glide smoothly over the Southern Ocean.
Skuas and Giant Petrels – Scavengers lurk near penguin colonies, seeking unattended nests.

Seabirds in South Georgia

Wandering Albatrosses – Legendary for their impressive wingspan, they soar gracefully over the ocean.
Light-mantled Albatrosses – These are best known for an elegant flight pattern and evocative calls.
Petrels, Shearwaters, and Prions – There’s an increase in activity amid nesting sites.

January

Humpback whales feeding
Penguin chicks in the Peninsula
Weddell seals on ice floes

Penguins in the Antarctic Peninsula

Adélie and Gentoo – Chicks are starting to fledge, growing in their waterproof feathers that prepare them for swimming.
Chinstrap Penguins – Parents are seen rearing their chicks, teaching them their ways.

Seals in the Antarctic Peninsula

Weddell Seals – Parents may be spotted near the Peninsula on the hunt to provide food to their young ones.
Leopard Seals – Between hunting around the Peninsula, they might bask in the sun on an ice floe.
Antarctic Fur Seals – New arrivals to the Peninsula during this time, they become more commonly spotted.

Whales in the Antarctic Peninsula and South Georgia

Humpback Whales – It’s peak whale watching season as these ocean giants breach the water’s surface.
Minke Whales – You may come across these agile mammals as they feed on krill.
Southern Right Whales – Less commonly seen than their counterparts, but their V-shaped blow and patches of rough skin make them easier to identify.

Seabirds in the Antarctic Peninsula and South Georgia

Albatrosses – These awe-inspiring birds soar elegantly in jet streams over the Southern Ocean.
Snow Petrels – Watch as they dip close to the ocean’s surface in search of food.
Skuas – When they’re not guarding their own nests, they are scavenging others.

February

Adult penguins molting, chicks learning to swim
Leopard seals hunting and molting
Penguin highways, parents feeding young beginning of month

Penguins in the Antarctic Peninsula

Adélie Penguins – The young ones are venturing out of their crèche (nursery) and testing the waters for their first swim.
Chinstrap Penguins – These chicks are being born late in the month in comparison to other species.

Penguins in South Georgia

Macaroni Penguins – Fledged chicks begin leaving the crèche to go out to sea on their own.
King Penguins – With the longest breeding cycle of their species (14 to 15 months), you can see these wonders in all aspects of their life cycle.

Whales in the Antarctic Peninsula

Humpback Whales – Migrating pods become more curious about their visitors as they’ve satiated their appetite.
Minke Whales – Keep an eye out for this smaller species as they feed on these krill-rich waters.

Seals in Antarctica and South Georgia

Leopard Seals – These predators are on the prowl near penguin colonies in the Peninsula for their prey.
Crabeater Seals – Preferring pack ice over open waters, you may spot one during an Antarctic Circle crossing.
Fur Seals – Playful pups in the Peninsula and South Georgia offer amazing photo opportunities.

Seabirds in Antarctic Peninsula and South Georgia

Wandering Albatrosses – The bustling breeding season brings these birds to soar overhead, performing hypnotic acrobatics.
Skuas – Chicks are hatching, making their grand entrance into the world.

March

Blue-eyed cormorants fledging in Peninsula
Minkes, fin and other whales
Mating song of leopard seals beginning to court

Penguins in Antarctic Peninsula and Falkland Islands

Rockhopper Penguins – Amid the Falklands, chicks fledge early in the month while the adults being to molt.
Gentoo Penguins – Curious chicks swim in shallow waters in the Peninsula as they continue to learn their ways.

Seals & Sea Lions in Antarctica and Falkland Islands

Sea Lions – Begin hauling out, coming out of the water to take a rest, in the Falklands.
Fur Seals – Male haul-outs may be seen in the early molting stages as they leave the water.

Whales in the Antarctic Peninsula

Humpback Whales – Satisfied on their last fill of krill, they are more inclined to play and show off.

Seabirds in Antarctica and Falkland Islands

Southern Giant Petrels – Chicks begin fledging in the Falklands around this time, growing their adult feathers to take flight.
Wandering Albatrosses – Eggs begin to hatch, and chicks are making their debut.

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Penguins

If there’s any bird associated with Antarctica, it’s the penguin. It’s likely you’ll come across a few, with six species making their home here: the Gentoo, chinstrap, Magellanic, king, southern rockhopper and emperor.

To see courtship rituals, the best time is mid-October to the beginning of December. The prime penguin hatching season is late December to January.

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Albatross

Poems have been written and songs sung about the albatross. With five species that call the region home, each with uniquely enchanting features, it’s easy to see why.

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Prions

Birdwatchers will learn to spot the differences between the three species of prions found in Antarctica.

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Petrels

More than a half dozen varieties of this sea bird make their home in Antarctica, flying over ice floes or sitting with their flocks atop icebergs. The courting season for Antarctica’s seabirds lasts from November to December, making this a good time for birders to visit.

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Seals

More than one species of seal call Antarctica home. Elephant, Weddell and Fur seals hunt the waters and come to land for some R&R…and to mate. Elephant and fur seals start to mark their preferred territories from mid-October to the beginning of December. To see seal pups on South Georgia and the Falklands, travel between mid-December and January. Towards the end of the summer in February and March, fur seals are more abundant on the peninsula.

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Whales

You’ll be delighted to catch sight of a pod of whales. Humpback whales, orcas and fin whales are known to swim in these waters. Late January to early March is the best time to see whales such as orcas, minkes, sperms and humpbacks.

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Dolphins

Found near the Antarctic Convergence, where the freezing waters meet more temperate waters, hourglass dolphins are one of the few cetaceans that enjoy the cold climate of Antarctica. They’re shorter and stockier than their counterparts, with a color pattern like that of an orca. You may just spot them while they ride alongside the ship or at its bow, or swim with the whales all summer long.

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