If Tux the Linux mascot is not quite your type of penguin, then how about this absolutely adorable Emperor Penguin Chick. Seen on Snow Hill Island, Antarctica. Photo #1 by wallpaperweb

Gentoo penguin trying to keep balance – Antarctica. Photo #2 by ashminder.ubhi

Here’s a sign you don’t see every day. The photographer explained, “In Oamaru, NZ there’s a colony of Blue Penguins that have made their home in a old quarry. It’s out on a headland a few miles from the centre of town. Every evening you can watch the penguins come ashore as the sun sets.” Photo #3 by fras1977

Twin Fairy little penguins, the Blue Penguin that was the inspiration for Linux mascot “Tux.” The the Little Blue Penguin (Eudyptula minor) is the smallest penguin species; it’s also known as the Fairy Penguin and is only about 40 cm tall (16 in) and weighs about 1 kg (2.2 lb). Photo #4 by M Kuhn

Emperor Penguin underwater, swimming. Emperor are the largest of the 17 penguin species. They live their whole lives on Antarctic ice and in its waters. Photo #5 by chikache

Puzzle Piece Closer, Gentoo penguins on an iceberg. Gentoo is the third largest species of penguin after the two giant species, the Emperor Penguin and the King Penguin. They “populate the Antarctic Peninsula and numerous islands around the frozen continent, are the penguin world’s third largest members, reaching a height of 30 inches (76 centimeters) and a weight of 12 pounds (5.5 kilograms).” Photo #6 by Chris Dent

“Penguins can’t fly!” Photo #7 by Nick Russill

Jackass Penguins near the Cape of Good Hope. Photo #8 by rogiro

“Penguin oasis.” Penguins are highly social, colonial birds; theyt form breeding colonies numbering in the tens of thousands. A wild penguin can live 15-20 years, depending on the species. Photo #9 by Peter Pawlowski

Adele Penguins on an iceberg; they live in huge colonies in Antarctica. Photo #10 by Nick Russill

The photographer wrote, “These two penguins were petting and playing with each other as I approached, just as I looked through the view finder to frame a shot they both stopped and looked straight at me. I got really lucky with the timing, but I am starting to think photography is all about being in the right place at the right time 🙂 Or at least having lots of patience! Most Humboldt penguin pairs remain faithful to each other for years, rarely choosing new partners unless one of them dies, and they often return to the same site to breed year after year.” Photo #11 by Adam Foster

Did you know a penguin’s eyes work better underwater than they do in the air? This gives them superior eyesight, even in cloudy, dark or murky water, to spot prey while hunting. Photo #12 by All the Best Desktop Wallpapers

Loving Emperor penguin families. Right: Emperor Penguin Family on the Eckstroem Ice-shelf 70˚36′ S 8˚08’W. Photo #13 by StormPetrel1 & #14 by StormPetrel1 & #15 by Anne Froehlich

“Rockhopper penguins are small, aggressive, crested penguins so named because of the way they hop from boulder to boulder when moving around their rocky colonies. Rockhoppers are a sub-Antarctic species breeding at cool, southern localities such as Macquarie Island, the Falklands, Campbell Island, Tristan da Cunha, and the Antipodes,” The photographer added, “Rockhoppers have distinctive crest feathers on their heads, bright orange-red bills and tiny blood red eyes. The top of the head has spiked black feathers. Like all penguins, Rockhopper have a big head, a short, thick neck, a streamlined shape, a short, wedge-shaped tail, and strong, stiff, flipper-like wings.” Photo #16 by Farrukh

“Antarctic tableau. Just another day in this magical place.” With the exception is the Galapagos penguin, most penguins live in the Southern Hemisphere, on Antarctica, New Zealand, and the southern tips of South America and Africa. Photo #17 by ashokboghani

King Penguins at West Falkland (left) & King penguin in Zurich, Switzerland. At 11 to 16 kg (24 to 35 lb), the King Penguin is the second largest species of penguin, second only to the Emperor Penguin. Photo #18 by Ben Tubby & #19 by Tambako the Jaguar

Antarctica: Emperor penguins at Neko Harbor. Emperor penguins are unique in that the stereotypical male and female parenting roles are reversed. The male penguin incubates the eggs while the female goes out to feed. After the little chick hatches, the male penguin feeds it with milk that he produces in his esophagus. Their lifespan averages to “about 20 years in the wild, although observations suggest that some individuals may live to 50 years of age.” Photo #20 by Rita Willaert

Adelie Penguin Dive on Paulet Island, Antarctica. At about nine weeks old, they lose their grayish-downy baby feathers and are instead “waterproof.” Photo #21 by Nick Russill

Emperor penguins, Antarctica. This is the tallest and heaviest of all living penguin species, reaching up to 48 inches (122 cm) and about 49 to 99 lbs (22 to 45 kg). “This penguin lives in the harshest weather of any animal on our planet. The female penguin lays one egg and the male penguin keeps it on top of its feet to keep it warm. They do not make a nest. Males can lose half their weight while keeping an egg warm because he does not eat. The males stand together in a big huddle for up to 9 weeks.” Photo #22 by StormPetrel1

Penguins on Boulders beach, South Africa. The African penguin is “also known as the Black-footed Penguin is a species of penguin, confined to southern African waters. It is also widely known as the ‘Jackass’ Penguin for its donkey-like bray, although several species of South American penguins produce the same sound.” Photo #23 by Francois de Halleux

Penguins rushing to water in South Africa. The African Penguin is found “on the south-western coast of Africa, living in colonies on 24 islands.” This has given those islands the nickname “Penguin Islands.” Photo #24 by Ozan Hatipoglu

Meeting point for Emperor penguins chicks called crèche, the group in which adults leave them while they fish. The parents then return with food they regurgitate for their young. Photo #25 by StormPetrel1

Top: Antarctica. Bottom: King Emperor Penguins. Photo #26 by Barbara Avalos via Guillermo Avalos & #27 by Nick Russill

“One of these things is not like the others, One of these things is not quite the same…” Photo #28 by Dave Morris

Macquarie Island – Royal penguin rookery. “The island is home to the entire Royal Penguin population on earth during their annual nesting season.” It became a World Heritage Site in 1997. Photo #29 by M. Murphy

“Gentoo penguin baby. Plus the other showing me ummm….something that he shouldn’t have been.” Photo #30 by ashminder.ubhi

Royal Penguin colony close up. Hurd Pt., Macquarie I., Australia. “Since the end of penguin hunting on Macquarie the numbers have climbed to 850,000 pairs. Before hunting started, there were 3 million penguins on the island (both Royal and King)” Photo #31 by Dr. Robert Ricker, NOAA/NOS/ORR

Gentoo penguin. Southern Ocean, Drake’s Passage area. Photo #32 by Lieutenant Elizabeth Crapo, NOAA Corps

“Ice penguins. Taken whilst visiting the Antarctic. It really was that blue!” Photo #33 by Graham Canny

Left: Rub-a-dub-dub Rockhopper. Right: Angry Rockhopper Penguin – Gough Island. Photo #34 by Farrukh & #35 by Chantal Steyn

“Look at that human over there!” Photo #36 by Humanoide

King penguin at Melbourne Aquarium – in flight underwater. Photo #37 by Bill Harrison

Three Emperor. Photo #38 by fruchtzwerg’s world

Ultimately cute, precocious penguin chick. If a young Emperor chick falls out of that warm spot under its daddy caretaker, it can freeze to death in as little as two minutes. Photo #39 by superb wallpapers

Penguin photographer family overtaking the camera. Photo #40 by Martha de Jong-Lantink

“Mechanical Penguins on display at the Bellagio Christmas Garden on display at the Bellagio Christmas Garden.” Have a happy holiday season! Photo #41 by Scott Ellis