These are the winners of this year’s bird photography competition. The competition organizers selected the winners and runners-up from more than 25,000 entries.
Bronze medalist in the Bird Behavior category. “When the male Asian bustard (also known as MacQueen’s bustard) performs his mating dance, he puffs out his beautiful white chest feathers and begins to trot, usually in a conspicuous location, all to attract a female. This bustard is usually very shy and difficult to spot due to its remarkably secretive plumage. Therefore, the best time to photograph these birds is during the mating season, when the males are performing in the ring. For many years, I dreamed of photographing a bustard dancing in the desert, and finally, with great patience and a stroke of luck, I was able to slowly approach it close enough to capture it strutting.” Central Negev, Israel. (Photo © Chen Ein-Dor / Bird Photographer of the Year):
Silver Prize Winner in the Creative Perspectives category. “Nothing heralds the arrival of spring more powerfully than the sight and calls of migratory birds in Sweden, especially whooper swans. I took this image at dusk, as the swans were gathering in a field by the lake. Using a long shutter speed to emphasize movement, I followed one of the swans as it settled, aiming to capture its gracefulness against the abstract backdrop of a sea of swans on the ground.” Tisslingen, Örebro, Sweden. (Photo © Andreas Hemb / Bird Photographer of the Year):
Bronze medalist in the Black and White Photography category. “I was watching this ochre-colored fish owl chick perched in a tree when it started to rain heavily. I took cover, keeping an eye on the owl, waiting for the right moment. It flew down to a low, unlit street lamp, and I quickly stepped out to photograph it.” The Oval, Singapore. (Photo © Jim Lee / Bird Photographer of the Year):
Snowstorm. Bronze prize winner in the Best Portrait category. “I was photographing a small flock of Alpine Choughs at 2,300 meters in the Swiss Alps when the temperature dropped to -10°C and the wind gusted snow across the ground. However, the choughs, perfectly adapted to these harsh conditions, seemed completely unfazed, hopping around in search of scraps left by hikers.” Gemmi Pass, Switzerland. (Photo © Luca Lorenz / Bird Photographer of the Year):
Graceful flight over wildflowers. Gold medalist in the under 11 category. “This summer, while exploring the Danube Delta in Romania, I discovered a colony of European Bee-eaters on a nesting cliff, where the birds were tirelessly chasing prey for their nesting chicks. The birds flew over a field of wildflowers whose colors perfectly matched the bee-eaters’ plumage. I was amazed by their agility: they quickly changed speed and direction, tracking insects in the air. After numerous attempts, I finally managed to photograph this bird in flight with its wings fully extended, showcasing the beautiful colors of its feathers, which perfectly matched the flowers.” Mahmudia, Romania. (Photo © Sasha Jumanca / Bird Photographer of the Year):
Sainte-Trinité. Bronze medalist in the Urban Birds category. “This abandoned French chapel was occupied by barn owls, who lacked a flat surface for nesting.” Hauts-de-France, France. (Photo © Benoit Henrion / Bird Photographer of the Year):
Crows on fire-scorched land in Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada. (Photo © Maxime Legare-Vezina / Bird Photographer of the Year):
“Minimalist Wings.” Gold Medal in the 15-17 age category and the title of “Young Bird Photographer of the Year 2025.” “I took this photo during the biggest trip of my life—to Central America in July 2024, in the first country we visited, Nicaragua. I saw this large vulture drying its wings on a pole near our hotel. The bird was watching me, but it was very calm, so I had plenty of time to photograph it. The landscape was unsightly, so I decided to frame it so that only part of the bird was in the frame.” Popoyo, Nicaragua. (Photo © Tomasz Michalski / Bird Photographer of the Year):
A triumphant arrival. Bronze medalist in the Birds in the Wild category. “I photographed this group of king penguins emerging from the ocean on an overcast summer morning.” Cape Volantire, Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas). (Photo © Steffen Foerster / Bird Photographer of the Year):
Blood Petrel. Gold Prize for Best Portrait. “Giant petrels are scavengers of the Southern Ocean, often seen feeding on carrion. This individual’s head is stained with blood from a recent meal.” Sea Lion Island, Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas). (Photo © Steffen Foerster / Bird Photographer of the Year):
Frigatebird and Diamond Ring. Gold Medal Winner in the Birds in Flight and Photographer of the Year 2025 categories. (Photo © Liron Gertsman / Bird Photographer of the Year):
“King of the Forest.” Silver medalist in the Bird Behavior category. “This male capercaillie, illuminated by the first rays of the rising sun, was perfectly positioned. The emotions I experienced are difficult to describe. Overwhelmed by what I saw, I forgot to adjust my camera, which is why most of the photos turned out blurry. Luckily, a few came out sharp!” Jura, Switzerland. (Photo © Mateusz Piesiak / Bird Photographer of the Year):
Migration. Bronze medalist in the Birds in Flight category. “It was January, and nature had created some very interesting formations in the salt lakes near Akashtó, Hungary. I launched my drone and was looking for a suitable composition when suddenly about a dozen geese flew into view. I immediately started photographing, and fortunately, everything fell into place—both the composition and the geese.” Akashtó, Hungary. (Photo © Tibor Litauszki / Bird Photographer of the Year):
Birds on Panels. Gold Prize Winner in the Urban Birds category. “A solitary bird rests on a vast field of solar panels along a highway in the Netherlands—a powerful symbol of the tension between green energy and nature. As we transition to sustainable energy, infrastructure often takes over scarce space that could be left for wildlife.” Next to a highway, Netherlands. (Photo © Alex Pansier / Bird Photographer of the Year):
Angel or Demon. Gold Prize Winner in the Bird Behavior category. “A red deer hit by a car in a pine forest near my home provided a fantastic opportunity to document the activity of predators and scavengers visiting the carcass. With the help of a friend, I set up and camouflaged a motion sensor and two mirrorless cameras nearby. To avoid disturbing them, I did not use flash or any other artificial lighting. After foxes, crows, and a few small birds visited the site, a golden eagle suddenly appeared, despite the dense canopy of branches, and descended to peck at the carcass.” Valle d’Aosta, Italy. (Photo © Francesco Guffanti / Bird Photographer of the Year):
Sunset Feast. Gold Medalist in the Birds in the Wild category. “I was in the Gulf of California, near Los Islotes, a cluster of rocks that make up the Espiritu Santo archipelago, to document the incredible recovery of this marine protected area. Los Islotes is the southernmost breeding ground for California sea lions in the Northern Hemisphere, but it’s a remarkably wild place for many other reasons. I was amazed by the extraordinary skill and grace of Brandt’s cormorants as they fed on a seemingly endless shoal of small sardines.” Espiritu Santos, Mexico. (Photo © Franco Banfi / Bird Photographer of the Year):
Structures. Silver Prize Winner in the Birds in the Environment category. “I spotted this Rock Ptarmigan slowly climbing a snowy slope in the Swiss mountains on a crisp winter day. Ptarmigans are masters of camouflage: their white winter plumage blends so well with the snow. I noticed that the tracks this bird left in the snow, highlighted by the low, diffused light, were perhaps more noticeable than the bird itself. I composed the image so that the bird became part of the picture, emphasizing its vast surroundings and showing the amazing texture of the snow.” Alpstein, Switzerland. (Photo © Levi Fitze / Bird Photographer of the Year): 
