How do penguins and puffins differ from each other?

Take the bagel and the doughnut, for instance. Both belong to the same food category and feature a circular shape. However, their similarities end abruptly. A simple touch, sniff, or taste reveals that these baked goods are entirely distinct. Bagels appeal to those who prefer savory flavors, while doughnuts captivate with their irresistible sweetness.

In the bird kingdom, puffins and penguins are frequently grouped together due to their apparent resemblances. Interestingly, their names share nearly identical origins. Initially, ornithologists referred to Manx shearwater chicks as "puffins," a term meaning "fatling," due to a misidentification [source: Project Puffin]. Despite the error, the name persisted. Similarly, penguins were named after the great auk, an extinct bird, whose scientific name, Pinguinus impennis, derives from the Latin word "pinguis," meaning "fat" [source: Gaskell].

Puffins and penguins share several physical traits that make them seem closely related, despite their differences. While puffins are shorter, rarely exceeding 1 foot (0.3 meters) in height, both species boast white underbellies and black dorsal plumage. They also share a distinctive waddling gait on their bright orange webbed feet.

These seabirds exhibit similar social behaviors, often gathering and nesting in large groups. Penguins form colonies (with nesting groups called rookeries), while puffins gather in circuses or puffinries. For instance, macaroni penguins can form breeding colonies of up to 2.5 million individuals [source: Reynolds]. Puffins are so sociable that they are drawn to wooden decoys placed by researchers to study their behavior. Both species also tend to form lifelong pair bonds.

Despite their charming waddles and striking plumage, it's important to clarify: penguins and puffins are entirely distinct species, with no direct relation to one another.

Penguins and Puffins: The Situation Isn't Just Black and White

Despite their superficial similarities, penguins and puffins are not closely related on the avian family tree. Genetically, they belong to entirely different families: penguins to Spheniscidae and puffins to Alcidae. With 17 penguin species and four puffin species, there is no overlap. Geographically, they are worlds apart, with puffins inhabiting the Northern Hemisphere (60% of which live in Iceland) [source: Project Puffin], while penguins thrive in the Southern Hemisphere, from Antarctica to South America.

The most striking difference between puffins and penguins lies in their ability to fly. Puffins, being lightweight and compact, are skilled fliers. Penguins, however, are flightless due to their heavier bodies and rigid wings. For perspective, puffins weigh just over a pound (0.45 kilograms) [source: Street and Emily], making them easy to carry, while an emperor penguin can weigh up to 66 pounds (30 kilograms), akin to lugging heavy baggage.

Though penguins cannot fly, their wings have evolved into powerful flippers, enabling them to dive deep underwater in search of fish and crustaceans. During migrations, they rely on swimming rather than flying, reaching speeds of over 20 mph (32 kph) [source: Mytour], rivaling even the fastest human swimmers.

Puffins share a similar diet with penguins, primarily feasting on small fish like herring, hake, and capelin. They use their wings to swim but only dive briefly, staying underwater for 20 to 30 seconds [source: Project Puffin]. Remarkably, puffins can carry multiple fish in their beaks, thanks to spiked ridges on their mouths. One puffin was recorded holding 62 fish at once [source: Taylor], showcasing their incredible foraging skills.

In the contest between puffins' aerial prowess and penguins' diving skills, there's no clear winner. Unless penguins suddenly take flight or puffins master underwater stunts, the competition remains a tie. Much like bagels and doughnuts, declaring a champion is simply impossible.