Birds are a secretive and mysterious species, which makes them one of the hardest to photograph. The British Trust for Ornithology, however, is taking time to appreciate photographers around the world who have mastered the art of capturing the quiet, gentle beauty of birds, and they’ve just announced their winners for 2017.
The Bird Photographer of the Year competition was initiated in 2015, and reportedly received a flood of entries right away. According to BTO Chief Executive Andy Clements, its aim is “to celebrate the artistry of bird photography and aid conservation by supporting the valuable work carried out by the BTO.” A cash prize of £5,000 (~$6,500 USD) is awarded to the top entry, with smaller amounts of cash, equipment, and merchandise being doled out to the others. This year’s victor? Alejandro Prieto Rojas from Mexico, who submitted a stunning portrait of flamingo feeding their young.
A selection of the winning and short-listed entries are also chosen by the BTO to feature in a special large-format photobook. The 2017 edition is available now, and partial profits from its sales will directly support the BTO’s bird conservation efforts. Scroll down to see some of the most incredible bird photos you might ever lay eyes on, and share this post with the bird-lover in your life.
More info: Bird Photographer of the Year Awards Book: BTO
#1 The Battle By Jose Garcia, US. Bird Behaviour Category
Image source: Jose Garcia / 2017 Bird Photographer of the Year Awards
#2 Barn Owl Hovering By Roy Rimmer, UK. Bird Behaviour Category
Image source: Roy Rimmer / 2017 Bird Photographer of the Year Awards
#3 Blue Tit On Berries By Markus Varesvuo, Helsinki, Finland. Winner Of Best Portfolio 2017 Category
Image source: Markus Varesvuo / 2017 Bird Photographer of the Year Awards
#4 2017 Bird Photographer Of The Year Cover
Image source: 2017 Bird Photographer Of The Year Cover
#5 Full Speed By Faisal Alnomas, Kuwait. Bird Behaviour Category
Image source: Faisal ALnomas / 2017 Bird Photographer of the Year Awards
#6 Goosander And Brood By Jonathan Gaunt, UK. Bird Behaviour Category
Image source: Jonathan Gaunt / 2017 Bird Photographer of the Year Awards
#7 Catch Of The Day By Vince Burton, UK. Winner Of The Nature Photographers Ltd People’s Choice Award Category
Image source: Vince Burton / 2017 Bird Photographer of the Year Awards
#8 Albatross Eye Close-up By Jessica Winter, Bronze In Attention To Detail Category
Image source: Jessica Winter / 2017 Bird Photographer of the Year Awards
#9 Grey Heron, Ahmad Al-essa, Kuwait. Silver Award Winner In The Attention To Detail Category
Image source: Ahmad Al-essa/2017 Bird Photographer of the Year Awards
#10 Bearded Sunset By Markus Varesvuo, Helsinki, Finland. Winner In Best Portfolio Category And Honourable Mention For Best Portrait Category
Image source: Markus Varesvuo / 2017 Bird Photographer of the Year Awards
#11 The Speculum By Georgina Steytler. Australia. Gold Award Winner In The Creative Imagery Category
Image source: Georgina Steytler / 2017 Bird Photographer of the Year Awards
#12 Twilight By Markus Varesvuo, Kuusamo, Finland. Best Portfolio Winner In The Creative Imagery Category
Image source: Markus Varesvuo / 2017 Bird Photographer of the Year Awards
#13 Daily Basket By Ionel Onofras, Romania. Best Portrait Category
Image source: Ionel Onofras / 2017 Bird Photographer of the Year Awards
#14 Snuggling Cygnet By Ben Andrew. Honourable Mention In Attention To Detail Category
Image source: Ben Andrew / 2017 Bird Photographer of the Year Awards
#15 I Lost My Mom, Common Kingfisher By Fahad Al-enezi, Spain. Bird Behaviour Category
Image source: Fahad Al-enezi / 2017 Bird Photographer of the Year Awards
#16 Snowy Owl By Markus Varesvuo, Helsinki, Finland. Winner Of Best Portfolio 2017 Category
Image source: Markus Varesvuo / 2017 Bird Photographer of the Year Awards
#17 Woodpecker In Car Mirror By Kelvin Dao. Honourable Mention In Birds In The Garden Category
Image source: Kelvin Dao / 2017 Bird Photographer of the Year Awards
#18 Pink Flamingo Feeding Their Young By Alejandro Prieto Rojas, Mexico. Gold Award And Bird Photographer Of The Year 2017 Winner In The Best Portrait Category
Image source: Alejandro Prieto Rojas / 2017 Bird Photographer of the Year Awards
#19 Great Snipe Silhouette By Torsten Green-Petersen. Honourable Mention In Bird Behaviour Category
Image source: Torsten Green-Petersen / 2017 Bird Photographer of the Year Awards
#20 Wide-angle Kite, Red Kite By Jamie Hall, United Kingdom. Birds In Flight Category
Image source: Jamie Hall / 2017 Bird Photographer of the Year Awards
#21 A Perfect Landing, Australian Pelican By Bret Charman, Australia. Gold Award Winner In Birds In Flight Category
Image source: Bret Charman / 2017 Bird Photographer of the Year Awards
#22 Blackbird Taking Berries By Roy Rimmer. Honourable Mention In Birds In The Garden Category
Image source: Roy Rimmer / 2017 Bird Photographer of the Year Awards
#23 Breakfast, Great Egret By Cheryl Schneider, Usa. Attention To Detail Category
Image source: Cheryl Schneider / 2017 Bird Photographer of the Year Awards
#24 Seagulls And Fox By Gabor Kapus. Honourable Mention In Birds In Flight Category
Image source: Gabor Kapus / 2017 Bird Photographer of the Year Awards
#25 Swimming Eider By Pål Hermansen. Bronze In Best Portrait Category
Image source: Pål Hermansen / 2017 Bird Photographer of the Year Awards
#26 Guillemot Stretching Wing By Marc Weber. Silver In Best Portrait Category
Image source: Marc Weber / 2017 Bird Photographer of the Year Awards
#27 All In Yellow, Blue-headed Wagtail By Robert Szafranek, Poland. Birds In The Environment Category
Image source: Robert Szafranek / 2017 Bird Photographer of the Year Awards
#28 Camouflage By Daniel Stenberg, Sweden. Honourable Mention In Birds In The Environment Category
Image source: Daniel Stenberg / 2017 Bird Photographer of the Year Awards
#29 Swallow Chicks In Nest By Joseph Anthony. Honourable Mention In Creative Imagery Category
Image source: Joseph Anthony / 2017 Bird Photographer of the Year Awards
#30 Pelican Portrait By Anna-mart Kruger, Namibia. Best Portrait Category
Image source: Anna-mart Kruger / 2017 Bird Photographer of the Year Awards
#31 Male King Eider By Staffan Widstrand. Honourable Mention In Best Portrait Category
Image source: Staffan Widstrand / 2017 Bird Photographer of the Year Awards
#32 Bravery, Pied Crow And White-backed Vulture By Bence Máté, Hungary. Bird Behaviour Category
Image source: Bence Máté / 2017 Bird Photographer of the Year Awards
#33 Starling In Bird Bath Underexposed By Mohammad Murad. Silver In Birds In The Garden Category
Image source: Mohammad Murad / 2017 Bird Photographer of the Year Awards
#34 Crane Flock Misty Lake By Piotr Chara. Silver In Birds In The Environment Category
Image source: Piotr Chara / 2017 Bird Photographer of the Year Awards
#35 Andean Condor In Flight Over Mountain Peaks By Ben Hall, Uk. Gold Award Winner In The Birds In The Environment Category
Image source: Ben Hall / 2017 Bird Photographer of the Year Awards
#36 Wing Formation By Tom Hines, Uk. Gold Award Winner In The Attention To Detail Category
Image source: Tom Hines / 2017 Bird Photographer of the Year Awards
#37 Little Grebe Taking Off By Faisal Alnomas. Honourable Mention In Bird Behaviour Category
Image source: Faisal Alnomas / 2017 Bird Photographer of the Year Awards
#38 Diving Kingfisher By Malek Alhazzaa. Silver In Bird Behaviour Category
Image source: Malek Alhazzaa / 2017 Bird Photographer of the Year Awards
#39 Condor Light Rays By John Sherman. Bhonourable Mention In The Environment Category
Image source: John Sherman / 2017 Bird Photographer of the Year Awards
#40 David Versus Goliath By Bruno De Lorenzo, Hungary. Bird Behaviour Category
Image source: Bruno de Lorenzo / 2017 Bird Photographer of the Year Awards
#41 Whooper Swans In Snow By Wim Van Den Heever. Bronze In Creative Imagery Category
Image source: Wim van den Heever / 2017 Bird Photographer of the Year Awards
#42 Stork Feet By Magdaléna Straková. Honourable Mention In Attention To Detail Category
Image source: Magdaléna Straková / 2017 Bird Photographer of the Year Awards
#43 Orhard Nuthatch By Charles Tyler, United Kingdom. Birds In The Garden Category
Image source: Charles Tyler / 2017 Bird Photographer of the Year Awards
#44 Barn Owl Hunting By House By Jamie Hall, Suffolk, England. Gold Award Winner In The Birds In The Garden Category
Image source: Jamie Hall / 2017 Bird Photographer of the Year Awards
#45 Blurred Bird Flock By Marc Weber. Bronze In Birds In The Environment Category
Image source: Marc Weber / 2017 Bird Photographer of the Year Awards
#46 Swan’s Head Underwater By Ian Wade. Bronze In Bird Behaviour Category
Image source: Ian Wade / 2017 Bird Photographer of the Year Awards
#47 Ptarmigan By Markus Varesvuo. Bronze In Birds In Flight Category
Image source: Markus Varesvuo / 2017 Bird Photographer of the Year Awards
#48 Coots Fighting By Andrew Parkinson, Derbyshire, Uk. Gold Award Winner In The Bird Behaviour Category
Image source: Andrew Parkinson / 2017 Bird Photographer of the Year Awards
#49 Willow Grouse By Markus Varesvuo, Helsinki, Finland. Winner Of Best Portfolio 2017 Category
Image source: Markus Varesvuo / 2017 Bird Photographer of the Year Awards
#50 Willow Grouse In The Garden By Markus Varesvuo. Honourable Mention In Birds In The Garden Category
Image source: Markus Varesvuo / 2017 Bird Photographer of the Year Awards
#51 Gannet Underwater By Markus Varesvuo, Helsinki, Finland. Winner Of Best Portfolio 2017 Category
Image source: Markus Varesvuo / 2017 Bird Photographer of the Year Awards
#52 Leaping Heron By Georgina Steytler. Honourable Mention In Birds In Flight Category
Image source: Georgina Steytler / 2017 Bird Photographer of the Year Awards
#53 Calling For The Sun By Ondrej Pelanek, Czech Republic. Gold Award Winner In Young Bird Photographer Of The Year Category
Image source: Ondrej Pelanek / 2017 Bird Photographer of the Year Awards
#54 Male And Female Mallard By Francesco De Giuseppe. Silver In Creative Imagery Category
Image source: Francesco De Giuseppe / 2017 Bird Photographer of the Year Awards
#55 Willow Grouse In Storm By Markus Varesvuo, Helsinki, Finland. Winner Of Best Portfolio 2017 Category
Image source: Markus Varesvuo / 2017 Bird Photographer of the Year Awards
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