Did you know that there are some birds that you might have thought of being Penguins but are not even close to being in their family?
In the cooler waters and seafood galore of the Northern Hemisphere, a group of birds have taken cues from the Penguin playbook. These birds are like the Arctic cousins of the South Pole celebrities.
But there’s more to it than just looks – these birds have their own unique stories to tell.
That is why, today I’m here with a compilation of birds that are uniquely similar-looking to Penguins.
You will find how they can be mistaken for a Penguin, as well as what key features to look for to identify them correctly.
So, let’s dive into this epic journey from the Southern Antarctic to the Northern Arctics!
Contents
What Are Penguins?
Penguins are a group of flightless birds that are well-adapted to life in the water. They belong to the family Spheniscidae and are known for their distinctive appearance, including their black-and-white coloring and upright posture.
Penguins are primarily found in the Southern Hemisphere, where they have a layer of insulating feathers and a layer of fat beneath their skin that helps them maintain body heat. Their wings have evolved into flippers, which they use for powerful swimming rather than flight.
Penguins can be of different types and species. These are known as the most distinctive types:
Emperor Penguin: The largest Penguin species that are known for their incredible adaptation to the harsh Antarctic environment.
King Penguin: Recognizable by their bright orange patches on their heads, they are the second-largest Penguin species and inhabit sub-Antarctic islands.
Adelie Penguin: These Penguins are known for their striking appearance, with a white ring around their eyes.
Gentoo Penguin: Characterized by a white stripe across their heads, Gentoos are known for their speed and agility in the water.
Rockhopper Penguin: These Penguins are known for their distinctive crest of spiky feathers on their heads.
These are just a few examples of the diverse and fascinating Penguin species that inhabit various regions of the Southern Hemisphere.
16 Penguins Look Alike Birds with Striking Similarities
However, we are here to talk about Penguin look-alikes and not Penguins! There are several species from different families and orders that somehow ended up resembling Penguins with strikingly similar appearances. So, let’s take a look at these incredible examples of evolution!
Atlantic Puffin
Source: @mati_photography
- Scientific Name: Fratercula arctica
- Size: 25 to 30 cm (10 to 12 in)
- Locality: North Atlantic Ocean
- Status: Vulnerable
- Breeding Season: Spring to Summer
Both Atlantic Puffins and Penguins exhibit black-and-white coloration and have a black line extending through their eyes, creating a mask-like appearance. They exhibit an upright posture while standing on land and have evolved to be strong swimmers. They also have a clear demarcation between their white undersides and darker upperparts, which contributes to their striking appearance like Penguins.
Key Differences
Atlantic Puffins have a more streamlined and aerodynamic body shape than Penguins that are designed for flying in the air and swimming in the water. They use their wings to fly both in the air and underwater, using a rowing motion to swim. They have webbed feet that aid in swimming underwater and propelling themselves through the water.
Little Auk
Source: @willy_maillard
- Scientific Name: Alle alle
- Size: 19 to 23 cm (7.5 to 9 in)
- Locality: Arctic Regions of the Northern Hemisphere
- Status: Least Concern
- Breeding Season: June to August
Little Auks are relatively smaller in size than most Penguin species but have a distinct blend of black and white coloration. They have a rounded body, short neck, and a small, pointed bill. The plumage of the Little Auk is primarily black on its upper parts, including its head, wings, and back. Its underparts are white, and a distinctive white patch is often behind its eye.
Key Differences
Little Auks are capable of flight and have wings adapted for both flying and underwater swimming. They have a more aerodynamic body shape that is suitable for flying. You can find them in relatively small colonies compared to the massive colonies formed by some Penguin species.
Great Auk
Source: @gimminni_wildlife
- Scientific Name: Pinguinus impennis
- Size: 75 to 85 cm (29.5 to 33.5 in)
- Locality: North Atlantic region
- Status: Extinct
- Breeding Season: April to July
The Great Auk had a stocky build with a short neck and a large, heavy bill. Their wings were adapted for swimming rather than flying, and it was an agile and powerful swimmer underwater. They went extinct in the mid-19th century due to human activities, primarily hunting for food, eggs, and feathers.
Key Differences
The Great Auk is an extinct species now, but you can visit their specimen in museums. You will find that it was larger and bulkier than most Penguin species, with a heavy body and short neck. The plumage was predominantly black on its back, wings, and head. Its underparts were white, and it had a characteristic white spot between its eyes.
Sound (Not found)
Common Murre
Source: @seumas326
- Scientific Name: Uria aalge
- Size: 38 to 46 cm (15 to 18 in)
- Locality: Coastal Areas Northern Hemisphere
- Status: Least Concern
- Breeding Season: April to July
Common Murres have a black upper body and a white underbelly. During the breeding season, they have a white line behind the eye, giving them a distinctive “raccoon-like” appearance. Their feet are set far back on its body, which allows them to be efficient swimmers underwater.
Key Differences
Unlike Penguins, Common Murres have a more elongated body shape and a pointed bill. They are found in the Northern Hemisphere, along coastlines in regions such as North America and Northern Europe. They lay eggs on narrow ledges or in crevices of rocky cliffs without constructing nests, similar to some other seabirds.
Guadalupe Murrelet
Source: @danemcdermott
- Scientific Name: Synthliboramphus hypoleucus
- Size: 25 to 28 cm (10 to 11 in)
- Locality: Guadalupe Island
- Status: Endangered
- Breeding Season: April to July
Guadalupe Murrelet has a black upper body and a white underbelly. It feeds primarily on small fish and marine invertebrates, diving underwater to catch its prey. It nests in crevices and burrows on the island’s cliffs and slopes. Its restricted range makes it vulnerable to habitat disturbances and changes.
Key Differences
It is capable of flight and uses its wings for both flying and swimming. During the breeding season, it develops a distinctive white patch on the side of its head, behind the eye. It has relatively short wings and a small, pointed bill. It has a highly restricted range and is not found in the same regions as Penguins.
Japanese Murrelet
Source: @hachiman_azuma
- Scientific Name: Synthliboramphus wumizusume
- Size: 23 to 25 cm (9 to 10 in)
- Locality: The Sea of Japan and The Northern Pacific Ocean
- Status: Vulnerable
- Breeding Season: April to July
Japanese Murrelets breed on remote islands and rocky coastal areas. They lay a single egg in crevices, burrows, or under vegetation, and both parents participate in incubating the egg and caring for the chick. You can find them only in the Northwestern Pacific Ocean, particularly along the coastal waters of Japan and neighboring regions.
Key Differences
Japanese Murrelet is relatively small with black upperparts, including its head, wings, and back, and white underparts. During the breeding season, it develops a white patch behind its eye and extends to the nape. It is capable of flight and uses its wings for both flying and swimming.
Horned Puffin
Source: @waldenreiter
- Scientific Name: Fratercula corniculata
- Size: 32 to 38 cm (12.5 to 15 in)
- Locality: North Pacific Ocean
- Status: Least Concern
- Breeding Season: Late Spring to Early Summer
Horned Puffins breed in colonies, often sharing their breeding sites with other seabird species. They lay a single egg in burrows or crevices on cliffs or rocky slopes. Both parents take turns incubating the egg and caring for the chick. After the breeding season, they spend much of their time at sea.
Key Differences
The Horned Puffin has a black-and-white coloration like Penguins, but it has a distinctive pair of curved “horns” or tufts of feathers above its eyes during the breeding season. It also has a brightly colored bill with a red base and yellow tip along with a white face mask and brighter eye rings.
Marbled Murrelet
Source: @strommepastrami
- Scientific Name: Brachyramphus marmoratus
- Size: 25 to 28 cm (10 to 11 in)
- Locality: North Pacific Coast of North America
- Status: Endangered
- Breeding Season: April to August
Marbled Murrelets are found along the North Pacific coast of North America, from Alaska to central California. They inhabit nearshore waters, bays, inlets, and fjords, often venturing further out to sea to forage for food. Unlike most seabirds that breed on coastal cliffs or islands, Marbled Murrelets are known to fly inland to old-growth forests to nest.
Key Differences
Marbled Murrelet has a marbled pattern of brown, black, and white on its upper parts, which provides camouflage against dappled sunlight when on the water. It has a small, compact body, a short neck, and a small, pointed bill. They are typically found in coastal and nearshore waters, and they fly inland to nest in old-growth forests.
Masked Booby
Source: @nfwf
- Scientific Name: Sula dactylatra
- Size: 70 to 90 cm (27.5 to 35.5 in)
- Locality: Tropical and Subtropical Waters Around the World
- Status: Least Concern
- Breeding Season: January to July
Masked Boobies are excellent fliers and divers. They use their long wings to soar gracefully over the ocean and then plunge dive into the water to catch fish. Their sharp bills are well-suited for capturing prey underwater. They inhabit islands, atolls, and coastal areas, often nesting on remote and isolated islands.
Key Differences
The Masked Booby can sometimes look like Penguin due to their size, but they have two distinct color morphs. The white morph has a predominantly white body with a light gray mask around the eyes, while the dark morph is dark brown all over, including the body, wings, and tail. Both morphs have long wings, but their coloration is quite different from that of Penguins.
Nazca Booby
Source: @c_u_l_pics
- Scientific Name: Sula granti
- Size: 140 to 160 cm (55 to 63 inches)
- Locality: Eastern Pacific Ocean
- Status: Least Concern
- Breeding Season: August and November
Nazca Boobies are colonial nesters, often forming large nesting colonies on islands and rocky shores. They build their nests on the ground, using twigs, debris, and vegetation. They might not seem as similar to Penguins in general, but their stance and size will surely remind you of one.
Key Differences
The Nazca Booby, particularly the dark morph, has dark brown plumage all over its body, including the body, wings, and tail. The face is pale, and it is bordered by a dark mask. You can see it using its long wings to soar over the ocean and plunge-dive to catch fish. It is found in the eastern Pacific Ocean, particularly in the Galápagos Islands and nearby regions.
Pigeon Guillemot
Source: @valisahigman
- Scientific Name: Cepphus columba
- Size: 30 to 38 cm (12 to 15 in)
- Locality: North Pacific Ocean
- Status: North Pacific Ocean
- Breeding Season: June to September
Pigeon Guillemots are found in coastal waters and rocky shorelines of the North Pacific Ocean, from Alaska to northern California. They inhabit areas with suitable nesting sites, such as cliffs, rocky islands, and coastal slopes. are colonial nesters, often forming small to large breeding colonies on rocky cliffs and islands.
Key Differences
They have a sleek and compact body with a combination of black and white plumage. During the breeding season, they have black bodies, white wing patches, and red legs. Outside of the breeding season, their plumage becomes more mottled, with a white face and throat and a grayish-black body.
Parakeet Auklet
Source: @igorrotanovsb
- Scientific Name: Aethia psittacula
- Size: 20 to 25 cm (8 to 10 in)
- Locality: North Pacific Ocean
- Status: Least Concern
- Breeding Season: April and May
Parakeet Auklets are found in the North Pacific Ocean, particularly in the northern regions. They inhabit coastal waters and rocky shorelines, often nesting on islands and cliffs. They primarily feed on small fish, crustaceans, and zooplankton. They often feed in flocks, diving to varying depths to find food. It is named for its bright head and bill colors, which resemble those of Parakeets.
Key Differences
Parakeet Auklet is a small seabird with a greenish-yellow head, bright orange bill, and white underparts during the breeding season. Its plumage is particularly striking and colorful. Outside of the breeding season, its appearance becomes more subdued, with a mottled appearance. They are skilled divers and swimmers, using their wings to propel themselves underwater in search of prey.
Razorbill
Source: @paulbrowning.photography
- Scientific Name: Alca torda
- Size: 38 to 43 cm (15 to 17 in)
- Locality: North Atlantic Ocean and the Arctic region
- Status: Least Concern
- Breeding Season: Spring and Early Summer
Razorbills are skilled divers and swimmers. They use their wings to propel themselves underwater in search of prey, primarily consisting of small fish and marine invertebrates. Their large bills are well-suited for capturing and consuming their underwater prey. They inhabit coastal waters, cliffs, and rocky islands, often nesting on steep cliffs or in crevices.
Key Differences
Razorbill is a medium-sized seabird with a sleek and elongated body. It has black plumage on its back, wings, and head, while its underparts are white just like Penguins. The most distinctive feature of the Razorbill is its large, sturdy bill, which is black and sharply pointed. During the breeding season, adults often have a white line that runs along the bill.
Thick-Billed Murre
Source: @aortiznaretto
- Scientific Name: Uria lomvia
- Size: 40 to 45 cm (15.7 to 17.7 in)
- Locality: Northern Polar Regions
- Status: Least Concern
- Breeding Season: May to July
Thick-Billed Murres are found in the northern polar regions, primarily in the Arctic. They inhabit coastal waters, cliffs, and rocky islands. These murres are skilled divers and swimmers, using their wings to propel themselves underwater in search of prey. They primarily feed on small fish and marine invertebrates, diving to significant depths to find food.
Key Differences
It has black plumage on its back, wings, and head, while its underparts are white similar to Penguins. However, the most notable feature of the Thick-Billed Murre is its large, sturdy bill, which is thicker and shorter than that of other alcids, such as Razorbills and Puffins. During the breeding season, adults often have a white line that runs along the bill.
Tufted Puffin
Source: @elopezgza
- Scientific Name: Fratercula cirrhata
- Size: 38 to 46 cm (15 to 18 in)
- Locality: North Pacific Ocean
- Status: Least Concern
- Breeding Season: March to May
Tufted Puffins are found in the North Pacific Ocean, primarily in coastal waters and rocky islands. They nest in burrows or crevices on cliffs and rocky slopes, often in colonies. They feed on small fish and marine invertebrates, using their specialized bills to capture and carry their prey.
Key Differences
Tufted Puffin is a medium-sized seabird with a stocky build. During the breeding season, it displays striking features, including its tufted golden-brown head feathers, bright orange bill, and striking white face. It has a black body, white underparts, and black and white wings.
Inca Terns
Source: @dokebicam
- Scientific Name: Larosterna inca
- Size: 40 to 45 cm (16 to 18 in)
- Locality: Western Coast of South America
- Status: Near Threatened
- Breeding Season: April to July and October to December
Inca Terns are found along the western coast of South America, from Peru to Chile. They inhabit coastal waters, rocky shorelines, and areas with suitable nesting sites such as cliffs and rocky islands. They are known for their aerial agility and the ability to plunge into the water from considerable heights.
Key Differences
Inca Tern might remind you of Penguins, but it has strikingly notable differences. One of its most distinctive features is its dark gray and black body with contrasting white mustache-like markings on its face. It has a bright red beak and legs, which add to its striking coloration. During the breeding season, adults often display elongated feathers on the nape of the neck.
FAQ
Now, you surely have some questions lurking in your mind by now? That is why I’ve answered some questions I see often being asked. So, let’s check them out!
Q: Why do these birds look like Penguins if they’re not related?
Ans: The similar appearance of these birds is a result of convergent evolution. Even though these birds are not closely related to Penguins, they have adapted to similar environmental conditions and challenges, leading to the development of analogous features.
Q: Do these birds have the same lifestyle as Penguins?
Ans: While these birds share some characteristics with Penguins, such as diving for food and nesting on cliffs, their behaviors and habitats can vary. Penguins are more adapted to life in colder waters and icy environments, whereas these northern counterparts live in a range of coastal environments.
Thoughts
As we bid farewell to our exciting journey about birds that look like Penguins, one thing becomes abundantly clear and that is nature’s creativity knows no bounds.
From the icy realms of Antarctica to the rocky shores of the Northern Hemisphere, these avian doppelgangers have demonstrated the incredible power of adaptation and evolution.
They have evolved to embody a strikingly similar appearance and lifestyle to Penguins despite inhabiting vastly different regions.
It’s a testament to the ingenious ways in which nature crafts solutions to challenges that often result in uncanny resemblances across hemispheres.
So, as you gaze upon a Penguin or its Northern look-alikes, remember that each one tells a story of resilience, adaptation, and the remarkable diversity that defines our planet.
