Penguins are some of the most iconic and beloved birds in the world. Their distinctive black and white plumage and upright, waddling posture makes them instantly recognizable. But did you know that penguins are part of a larger family of birds called Sphenisciformes that contains several other unique species?
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: There are several bird species that resemble penguins in appearance and behavior, including auks, puffins, and the extinct great auk. While not closely related to penguins, these seabirds occupy similar ecological niches.
In this comprehensive guide, we will explore some of the most penguin-like birds that inhabit coastlines and islands around the world. We will discuss how they compare to true penguins in terms of evolution, anatomy, habitat, and lifestyle.
Whether you’re a birdwatcher eager to expand your life list or simply fascinated by these charismatic creatures, you’ll learn some fun facts and insights into penguin relatives.
Penguin Classification and Evolution
Sphenisciformes Order
Penguins belong to the order Sphenisciformes, which contains all 18 species of penguin. The order name means “wedge-shaped” in reference to the streamlined body shape of penguins. Penguins are well adapted for aquatic life, with wings that have become flippers and a body shape that is ideal for swimming and diving.
All penguins are found exclusively in the Southern Hemisphere. They range from the Galapagos Islands near the equator to Antarctica. Penguins cannot fly, but they are excellent swimmers and divers. Their wings have become stiff, flat flippers that help propel them through the water.
Their bodies are streamlined and their feet have webbing that helps make them efficient swimmers.
True Penguins
There are six genera of penguins within the order Sphenisciformes: Aptenodytes, Pygoscelis, Eudyptula, Spheniscus, Megadyptes, and Eudyptes. The first two genera (Aptenodytes and Pygoscelis) are sometimes referred to as “true penguins.”
The true penguins consist of the genus Aptenodytes, which includes the King, Emperor, and Royal penguins, and the genus Pygoscelis, which includes the Adelie, Chinstrap, and Gentoo penguins. These species tend to be larger in size than other penguins and have a more upright posture.
Evolution and Fossil Record
The evolutionary history of penguins dates back to the Cretaceous period over 60 million years ago. The earliest known penguin fossils are about 61 million years old. The earliest penguins were probably flightless and adapted to aquatic life early in their evolution.
Modern penguins seem to have shared a common ancestor as recently as 20 million years ago.
Significant fossil finds have shed light on the evolution of penguins. The oldest known penguin species is Waimanu manneringi from the early Paleocene epoch. Fossil evidence indicates early penguins lived in New Zealand soon after the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction event that killed off most dinosaurs.
Penguin fossils have also been found in Antarctica.
Researchers from University of Canterbury analyzed DNA from modern penguins and compared it to the fossil records. Their analysis suggests that two major groups of penguins diverged from a common ancestor around 23 million years ago – one gave rise to the little blue penguin and related species, while the other diverged 15 million years ago and led to all other penguins.
Auks
Puffins
Puffins are the most colorful and recognizable members of the auk family. There are four species of these clown-like, black and white seabirds with large, brightly colored bills: the Atlantic Puffin, Horned Puffin, Tufted Puffin and Rhinoceros Auklet.
They nest on cliffs and remote islands, inhabiting cold northern waters across the globe. Research shows puffin populations have declined by 40-60% in Europe in recent years due to reduced fish numbers and climate change. To learn more, visit the BirdLife International puffin factsheet.
Murres and Murrelets
Murres and murrelets look plain in comparison to puffins but exhibit some amazing adaptations to their marine lifestyle. They have narrow wingspans allowing them to “fly” underwater in pursuit of fish and their legs are positioned so far back on their bodies they have difficulty walking on land.
There are over 20 species found throughout northern oceans, with some even ranging as far south as California and Mexico. They form vast breeding colonies numbering in the millions in places like the coastal cliffs of Newfoundland.
Unfortunately they too suffer from lack of prey fish and oil pollution. Get the latest research on murres at ACE-ECO.
Razorbills
The Razorbill is the largest Atlantic auk, but is less familiar than its close relative the Puffin. It breeds on islands throughout eastern Canada, Greenland, Iceland, Scandinavia and northern Britain. Recent surveys show worlwide Razorbill numbers to be around 1 million breeding pairs.
It catches small fish, crustaceans and molluscs by pursuit diving, using its wings for propulsion underwater. Major threats come from hunting, oil spills, and introduced predators. The species is classified as “Near Threatened” by the IUCN Red List due to rapid population declines.
Read recent research on Razorbills at the journal Marine Ecology Progress Series.
Guillemots
The guillemot, or Common Murre, is possibly the most numerous seabird on Earth after the Antarctic Fulmar. Breeding colonies across the northern hemisphere contain over 20 million individuals. Their conical bills helps them catch slippery fish and hold multiple prey items.
They perform remarkable feats of endurance migration, such as the roundtrip journey of over 5,000 miles made annually by those nesting in California. A single breeding site at the Farallon Islands numbers over 300,000 Guillemots.
However, they remain susceptible to oil spills, predation and disturbance at colonies. Get more on Guillemots from the US Fish & Wildlife Service.
Extinct Great Auk
The Great Auk was the original “penguin” – a flightless, black-and-white seabird of the North Atlantic. It grew over 3 feet tall and lived in massive colonies until being hunted to extinction in the mid 19th century.
Sadly, we only have preserved bodies and egg shells to remind us of this magnificent bird. Analysis shows it couldn’t cope with human disturbance and exploitation of its breeding islands. The tragic fate of the Great Auk teaches us to respect and conserve wild species before it’s too late.
Get more on the rise and fall of the Great Auk at BioScience journal.
Similarities and Differences from Penguins
Appearance
Penguin relatives like puffins, murres, and auklets share similar black and white plumage like penguins. Many of them have bright orange, yellow, or red bills and facial decorations unlike the mostly black and white penguins.
Most penguin-like birds are much smaller than penguins, with the Little Auk being the smallest at only 9 inches tall.
Geographic Range
While penguins live exclusively in the southern hemisphere, especially Antarctica, many of their relatives inhabit northern latitudes in the Arctic, North Atlantic, and North Pacific oceans. For example, puffins nest along northern coastal areas and islands in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
Breeding and Chicks
Similar to penguins, many auks and murres nest in large breeding colonies numbering in the tens or hundreds of thousands. The male and female take turns incubating eggs and caring for hatchlings. However, unlike penguins, most penguin-like birds can fly and hunt for food to feed their young.
Diet and Foraging
Penguins rely on krill, fish, and squid caught by diving and swimming underwater. Comparatively, auks, murres, and puffins are able to fly and dive to catch small fish and crustaceans. Their wings have evolved to provide excellent underwater propulsion to swim and hunt down prey.
Predators and Threats
Penguin chicks and eggs face predators like seals, whales, and skuas. Many puffins and auks also fall victim to various egg and chick predators including gulls, foxes, bears, eagles, and falcons. They also face threats from oil spills, commercial fishing, habitat loss, and climate change.
Other Penguin-like Birds
Cormorants
Cormorants are medium-to-large seabirds that resemble penguins in their body shape and coloring. There are around 40 species of cormorants found worldwide, mostly inhabiting coastal regions. Like penguins, cormorants have compact, dense bodies with short tails and wings specialized for underwater swimming.
Their feathers are not waterproof, however, so they must spread their wings out to dry after diving. Some key differences from penguins are that cormorants have long, thin beaks for catching fish and most species have partial summer plumage that is lighter in color.
Some of the most common cormorant species include the Great Cormorant found throughout Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia. The Double-crested Cormorant inhabits North America and the Pelagic Cormorant is found along the North American Pacific Coast.
The smallest is the Pygmy Cormorant of southern Europe and southwestern Asia. Though they don’t have the iconic tuxedo-like appearance of penguins, cormorants fill a similar ecological niche as expert fishing birds.
Their large populations and widespread distribution reveal their success as ocean predators.
Grebes
Grebes are small to medium-sized diving birds with lobed toes well-adapted for swimming. There are 22 extant species in 6 genera, with a fossil record dating back to the Late Cretaceous. Grebes have a streamlined body shape and dense, waterproof plumage like penguins.
Their feet are placed far back on the body to be more propulsive in water. Unlike penguins, grebes can take flight and have wings adapted for flying. However, they are clumsy on land with their feet placed so far back.
Some notable grebe species are the Horned Grebe, Eared Grebe, and Pied-billed Grebe of North America. The Great Crested Grebe found across Eurasia and Africa is known for its elaborate mating display. Many species show striking breeding plumage and colorful ornamentations during courtship.
Though they don’t have the iconic tuxedo-like appearance of penguins, grebes fill a similar ecological niche as expert diving birds in freshwater habitats around the world.
Loons
Loons are aquatic birds in the genus Gavia, with 5 extant species found in North America, Europe, and Asia. Loons resemble penguins in their dense bones, short wings, sharp beaks, and streamlined bodies adapted for swimming underwater.
Their legs are set far back on their bodies and their feet have webbing and flatten lobes for propulsion in water. However, loons differ from penguins in that they have larger wings adapted for flying.
Some key loon species are the Common Loon, found across northern North America and Eurasia, known for its haunting vocalizations. The Red-throated loon inhabits the Arctic regions of North America and Eurasia. The Yellow-billed Loon is found in the Arctic regions of North America.
Though they don’t have the iconic tuxedo-like appearance of penguins, loons fill a similar ecological niche as fishing birds in northern regions. Their piercing calls echoing across lakes reveal their presence throughout their breeding habitats.
Conclusion
While no birds are exactly like penguins, several unique species fill comparable niches in the Southern and Northern Hemispheres. Auks, puffins, murres share many traits with their better-known black and white counterparts.
Understanding how evolution has shaped these seabirds provides insight into ecology and adaptation.
Penguins continue to captivate people worldwide. Seeing their doppelgangers in other families of birds can make us appreciate afresh how remarkable penguins truly are. If this article piqued your interest, keep exploring the world of seabirds and seeing how many penguin lookalikes you can spot in the wild or at zoos and aquariums.
