Penguin look-alikes roam Brevard beaches

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — Brevard County beach visitors may spot some birds that look out of place.

The birds, that look a lot like penguins, are called razorbills and have been showing up near the Kennedy Space Center and Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.

Biologists said they rarely flock south of New Jersey.

"In Florida there have been 14 sightings in the past four decades," said Sandy Mickey of U.S. Fish and Wildlife.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife said there could be a couple reasons for the large numbers, including Hurricane Sandy.

But the birds aren't surviving.

"It doesn't appear they are able to find the food sources down here that they have up north," said Mickey.

"Until we can get a bit more information, it's hard to say what the course of action might be in the future," Mickey said.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife said that some of the strongest birds should be able to migrate back to the Northeast once the climate warms up.

WFTV