Most people know that there are several species of penguins in Antarctica, but many are uncertain about whether or not there are penguins on the other side of the globe. For instance, are there penguins in Alaska?
Alaska would seemingly be a good place to support penguins, as this massive state features plenty of rocky islands on which penguins could lay their eggs. Indeed, seeing a penguin in Alaska would be a highlight for many if it were possible. However, before you go on a journey to see Alaskan penguins, you’ll want to find the answer to, “Do they have any penguins in Alaska?”.
If you’re interested in the possibility of Alaska penguins, you’ve come to the right place. In addition to discussing whether or not there are penguins in Alaska, I will tell you about some penguin lookalikes in the last frontier. Okay, so does Alaska have penguins? Well, let’s find out!
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Are There Penguins In Alaska?
Many would assume that Alaska is a fantastic place to find penguins. I’ve already touched on the fact that Alaska would have many of the remote, rocky islands around its coasts on which penguins would love to mate. Additionally, the climate is mild at best, being rather frigid for much of the year. While this may sound miserable to some humans, many penguin species thrive in such conditions. Alright, do penguins live in Alaska, or are there penguins in Alaska at any point of the year?
No, there are not penguins in Alaska! This may be shocking to some, especially considering that penguins occur in much more temperate climates such as those found in Argentina and New Zealand. However, there’s no doubt that Alaska penguins are not a sight that tourists should expect to see. In fact, there are no penguins in the Arctic at all. All penguin species are found south of the equator.
Okay, now that I’ve addressed the question, “Does Alaska have penguins?” you may now want to know more about why they’re absent from this state. Why are penguins in Alaska not an expected occurrence?
Why Aren’t Penguins In Alaska?
Okay, we know that there are penguins in Alaska at no points of the year, so the big question that is probably going through the minds of many right now is why – why aren’t there penguins in Alaska?
Well, it is thought the penguins evolved about 22 million years ago around Australia and New Zealand. These friendly-looking birds eventually began colonizing some of the islands in the southern oceans surrounding these nations. Gradually, it is thought that penguins rode currents to different parts of the southern hemisphere. Thus, we ended up with penguins in Antarctica, South America, Africa, and Australia. The various penguins that made their way to these locations have diversified over millions of years into more than 20 different species.
Although penguins are fantastic swimmers, they did not end up in Alaska because the currents within the oceans of the southern hemisphere do not tend to flow in the direction of this state. Therefore, it would have been a long, tiring journey for penguins to swim to Alaska. Moreover, we know that penguins cannot fly, so this option was not on the table for them, either. So, despite the seemingly optimal climate that Alaska has to offer, there are no Alaska penguins.
Accounts of Penguins In Alaska
Even though the answer to the question, “Are there penguins in Alaska?” is no, some are convinced that they have observed penguins off of the Alaskan coast. Some wonder if penguins may occasionally wander over to Alaska in uncommon circumstances. So, are there penguins in Alaska occasionally?
There has been at least one legitimate account of a penguin in Alaska. In fact, the fisherman did more than just observe the bird, as they accidentally caught it within their fishing nets. Fortunately, the Alaskan penguin was safely returned to the water after this ordeal.
Although this account may seemingly present compelling evidence for the notion that Alaska penguins may exist after all, it is not likely that this Humboldt’s Penguin truly swam all the way to Alaska from Chile. Instead, the Alaskan penguin was probably assisted by a ship that picked it up in the southern hemisphere before being abandoned closer to Alaska.
Birds That Look Like Penguins In Alaska
Those who claim to have seen Alaskan penguins are far more likely to have seen one of the many species that superficially looks and behaves like penguins. Let’s discuss some common Alaska penguin lookalikes that may be found in the waters around this massive state.
Puffins
Puffins are likely the most common birds that will be mistaken for penguins in Alaska. Indeed, two puffin species can be found in Alaska: Horned Puffins and Tufted Puffins. The third and final species of puffin—the Atlantic Puffin—is not found in Alaska, but they do breed in states such as Maine.
Although puffins are substantially smaller than most penguins, many draw comparisons between the two species because all puffins are black and white. Moreover, puffins dive and eat fish just as penguins do. However, this is where the similarities stop. After all, puffins are capable of flight and possess thick, stout bills, unlike the longer beaks of penguins.
Murres
Many have probably never heard of a murre before, but they are probably the birds in Alaska that look the most similar to penguins. Indeed, many may see a murre and ask themselves, “Do penguins live in Alaska after all?”.
Murres are a type of seabird that belong to the same family as puffins and guillemots. There are two species of murre in Alaska: the Thick-billed Murre and the Common Murre.
Like penguins, both of Alaska’s murres are dark on top and white below. Additionally, murres have rather long and pointed bills – a feature that reminds many of penguin bills. Lastly, murres dive to catch fish and other marine organisms just like penguins. However, unlike penguins, murres are capable of flight.
Guillemots
Guillemots are another species of seabird that bear somewhat of a resemblance to penguins. There are two guillemot species that can be seen in Alaska: Pigeon Guillemots and Black Guillemots. Both are mostly black in the breeding season before molting and becoming black birds with white stomachs in the nonbreeding season.
Guillemots feature similar colors in their plumage compared to penguins, and they’ve also got similar bills. Like the other seabirds on this list, guillemots also eat fish and other small sea creatures. Alas, guillemots can fly, and they are much smaller than penguins.
Loons
Loons are the final family of birds that look like penguins in Alaska. There are five types of loons, and all can be found within Alaska.
Those who get a close look at a loon will quickly realize that it’s not a penguin. For starters, loons cannot walk, whereas penguins are very much capable of walking. Despite this massive difference, loons can look and behave much like penguins when viewed at a distance. For instance, they are roughly the same size as many penguin species. Moreover, they’ve got long, thick bills like penguins. They even dive underwater to catch fish just like penguins. Although some similarities exist, loons are capable of flight.
Now that we’ve confirmed that the answer to “Are there penguins in Alaska?” is no, some may wonder if penguins exist in Canada. So, are there penguins in Canada?
Are There Penguins In Canada?
This article has confirmed that penguins do not naturally occur in Alaska, as this state is simply too far away for these flightless birds to swim. However, some may wonder if penguins may have made their way to Canada – a nation that offers a similar climate and habitat as Alaska while being a bit further south. So, are there penguins in Canada?
Conclusion
Alaska is a state with an incredible diversity of birds. The waters surrounding Alaska are tremendously productive and teeming with life. Nevertheless, we learned that the answer to the question, “Are there penguins in Alaska?” is no. Therefore, those interested in seeing penguins will have to check out one of the many locations in the southern hemisphere.
Although the answer to “Do penguins live in Alaska?” is no, those interested in seeing penguins will have plenty of opportunities to do so in the southern hemisphere.