[2] A 5 km (3.1 mi) wide and 700 m (2,300 ft) deep caldera called the Hawkes Heights can be found on the south end of the island.

The island is currently recognized as an important bird area because it holds a huge super-colony of emperor penguins and is the largest colony of this species in the world.

[citation needed] Coulman Island is in the Ross Sea to the southeast of Daniell Peninsula, and east of the ice tongues of Borchgrevink Glacier and Mariner Glacier, which extend into Lady Newnes Bay to the southwest of the island.

Named by NZGSAE, 1958-59, for Captain William M. Hawkes, United States Navy, who took a leading part in early air operations from Williams Field near McMurdo Station, including long range photo reconnaissance and supply flights, and the first air landing at the South Pole.

Discovered Jan. 17, 1841 by Sir James Clark Ross who named it in compliment to his wife's uncle, Robert John Coulman, Esq., of Wadworth Hall, Doncaster.

[8] This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Geological Survey.