Wait – Does Michigan Have Wild Penguins?

I've lived in Michigan for my entire life and always believed that there was no way that we had wild penguins here.

But I saw some photos over the weekend that left me questioning everything that I've ever believed.

👇Check Out 50 Birds Around Michigan You Know But You Don't Know👇

I wasn't the best at science in school, but I remember enough to know that penguins are only found in the wild in the Southern Hemisphere. If you're thinking, "Wait, isn't the Southern Hemisphere warm?" you're not alone. Much of it is, but you have to remember that the Southern Hemisphere also includes Antarctica.

So what made me question this belief?

Do These Photos Show Wild Penguins in Michigan's Upper Peninsula?

The U.P. does get pretty cold, but not Southern-Hemisphere-cold - at least not most of the time.

So these photos captured on Neebish Island threw me for a loop.

Those look like penguins, right?!?

READ MORE: You Could Own a Former Neebish Island Car Ferry

Turns out, they're not - but what are they?

Black and White Birds That Look Like Penguins But Aren't

Again, I've lived in Michigan my entire life and this is the first time that I have ever heard of this species of bird.

Those black and white, somewhat clumsy fowl that were captured on camera off the coast of Neebish Island are mergansers.

According to the National Audobon Society, they're pretty common in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

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While they may resemble penguins, they're actually not related at all and are actually part of the same family as ducks.

(So, bonus points for the mergansers - they can actually fly, unlike penguins.)

Mergansers are quite awkward when walking on land, which is why people often think that they're seeing penguins when they see one. This is because according to Matt Pelikan of The Martha's Vineyard Times,

Like loons, their legs are mounted far back on their bodies — good for swimming but not for walking. - Matt Pelikan, The Martha's Vineyard Times