Bird Photographer of the Year Winners Reveal Spectacular Avian Wonders

The Bird Photographer of the Year 2024 winners have been unveiled. Among the stunning images are surfing penguins, a Hoopoe at sunset, and winking owls.

Photographers from all over the world entered more than 23,000 images into the competition. As Bird Photographer of the Year has conservation at its heart, the grand prize winner of the competition captured an impactful image of one of the most serious threats to birds in the world. You can see Patricia Seaton Homonylo’s Bird Photographer of the Year 2024 image among the other winners below.

BEST PORTRAIT

GOLD AWARD WINNER. WINTER PINK. Grey-crowned Rosy-finch, Leucosticte tephrocotis. Homer, Alaska, United States

“During my stay in Alaska, Grey-crowned Rosy-finches would gather in large flocks next to my hotel. Fortunately for photographers, they are a very tame species and they allowed me to set up my tripod and camera to grab a few frames before they all took off. The colours in the background are distant boats in a marina,” says photographer Alan Murphy.

SILVER AWARD WINNER. SWANCEPTION Mute Swan, Cygnus olor. London, United Kingdom.

Photographer Samual Stone says, “I conceived the idea for this image some time ago, but each time I attempted to turn it into reality one of the elements was not right. It felt like I was in a creative rut and I had not taken an image I was really happy with for a while. On this particular morning, I decided to return to this idea out of desperation. I spotted my local Mute Swans in their usual spot, preening in the morning light. Fortunately, it was also a crisp morning, and the mist was slowly descending, creating a soft morning glow. After so many attempts, everything finally came together when a swan swam into the perfect spot. Finally, I created the image I had pictured in my mind.”

BRONZE AWARD WINNER. Black Grouse, Lyrurus tetrix. Kuusamo, Finland.
Markus Varesvuo, Finland.

“For several weeks each year, Black Grouse gather at leks on spring mornings for courtship and display. It can still be quite wintry and cold. They fly in before sunrise and land in the trees on the edge of the lek. Eventually the males come down, each claiming their patch, and spend a couple of hours sizing each other up, charging at each other, engaging in mostly mock battles. Sometimes, however, the encounters escalate to real fights. The heated breath of a solitary fighter is steaming in the cold air, which I captured while sitting inside a small photography hide, revelling in the sounds and sights of this ancient play,” says photographer Markus Varesvuo.

BIRDS IN FLIGHT

GOLD AWARD WINNER. DAWN’S WHISPERS: GRACEFUL HOOPOE SILHOUETTE AT SUNRISE. Eurasian Hoopoe, Upupa epops. Al Qudra Lakes, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

A Eurasian Hoopoe took flight with its wings spread in a smooth motion across the canvas of the early-morning sky illuminated by the sunrise’s bright hues. Photographer Hermis Haridas says, “I saw that this bird would occasionally grab its prey in the air and other times on the ground. Additionally, I noticed that each time it caught prey, it flew in the same direction to a nearby tree. That was when I had the idea to photograph the bird against a background divided into dark and light, representing the contrasting sides of existence. The following morning, I returned to the same spot well before sunrise, eager to witness nature’s spectacle unfold once again…With my camera poised and settings adjusted, I commenced capturing the unfolding scene. Among the flurry of clicks, I chanced upon a frame that resonated deeply with me – a moment frozen in time, brimming with unique charm.”

SILVER AWARD WINNER. HEAVENLY ELEGANT FLIGHT. European Goldfinch, Carduelis carduelis. France.

Photographer Nicolas Groffal says, “In the dead of winter, I marvel at the aerial ballet of the garden birds that come to visit my trees and to take advantage of the seeds that I put out for them. Discreetly hidden, I tried to immortalise their flight and its delicate trail using a flash and camera in ‘rear curtain’ mode. The mission was challenging and these mischievous little models followed their own dance. However, it is precisely this spontaneity that makes the photographic challenge exhilarating! Hundreds of shots were required before I captured the perfect moment, which portrayed the fleeting magic of nature in winter.”

BRONZE AWARD WINNER. WATER TAKE-OFF. Brown Booby, Sula leucogaster. Midriff Islands, Sea of Cortez, Mexico.

At the Midriff Islands, Brown Boobies can often be seen resting on the water’s surface. Photographer Suliman Alatiqi says, “In this photo I wanted to try to capture an underwater perspective of the moment a bird takes off. To do so, I dived about 10 metres away from the birds and slowly ascended from underneath while monitoring their movement through the lens. The greatest difficulty in achieving this photo was having to free dive with two large strobes which created a lot of drag. But the strobes were necessary since I did not want a silhouette and needed strong flash output.”

BIRD BEHAVIOR

GOLD AWARD WINNER. SCAVENGER Turkey Vulture, Cathartes aura. West Virginia, United States.

In early March 2023, the remains of an American Black Bear were discovered by hikers along a rushing mountain stream in West Virginia. It was very clear from the large patches of missing fur that the bear had died after a battle with mange.” says photographer Nathaniel Peck. “After being informed of the carcass and securing permission, I set up a DSLR camera trap that took images of all the animals that came in to investigate and scavenge off the bear. The set-up remained in place for six months. As the weather warmed in spring, this Turkey Vulture became a frequent visitor, sometimes spending hours at the carcass.”

SILVER AWARD WINNER. PLAYFUL FLEDGLING. Peregrine Falcon, Falco peregrinus. Southern California, United States.

Photographer Jack Zhi says, “This Peregrine Falcon fledgling had been flying for over a week and his skills had improved by the day. While he still took food from parents, he had started to practise his hunting skills. He was not good enough to catch live birds in the air yet, so he took baby steps by chasing a fluttering butterfly. He was certainly much faster than the butterfly and also nimble enough to keep up with it. Look at the concentration! He was successful on occasion, caught the butterfly, played with it for a second, then released it. I have been photographing peregrines for years, and this was the first time I have seen fledglings play with butterflies.”

BRONZE AWARD WINNER. Magellanic Penguin, Spheniscus magellanicus. Volunteer Point, Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas).

“I was at Volunteer Point on the Falkland Islands in January 2023 when I noticed a Southern Sea Lion patrolling along the beach trying to catch penguins,” says Tom Schandy. “This individual has been there for several years and, in this picture, it is a Magellanic Penguin that faces the underwater threat. The photograph shows that sea lion attacking from underwater in an attempt to capture the penguin on the crest of the wave. In the event, it was successful and this Southern Sea Lion had penguin for breakfast that day.”

BIRDS IN THE ENVIRONMENT

GOLD AWARD WINNER. IMMERSION. Northern Gannet, Morus bassanus. Shetland, United Kingdom.

Here we see a trio of Northern Gannets diving into the ocean on a sunny day in Shetland. The species is Scotland’s largest seabird, and they are remarkably adept in the water, with the ability to dive to depths as far as 22 metres. Photographer Kat Zhou says, “I took this photo while scuba diving from a boat near Noss, which is home to the UK’s seventh largest colony of Northern Gannets. In the past the population has been estimated at around 25,000 birds, though their numbers were unfortunately severely reduced by the avian flu outbreak. It is unclear when, or if, their population will be able to recover. Dead herring from a local herring fishery were used to attract the birds to the boat.”

SILVER AWARD WINNER. SURFING ON THE OTHER SIDE. Gentoo Penguin, Pygoscelis papua. Sea Lion Island, Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas).

Photographer Levi Fitze says, “In autumn 2022 I had the chance to visit the Falkland Islands. During my last days on the islands, I found an area along a beach where Gentoo Penguins surf in the waves when coming back from their hunting dives. After many attempts I got exactly the image I was hoping for. Not too long ago, people used to wipe out whole colonies of Gentoo Penguins and others of their kind. Their eggs were a food source, but the birds themselves were prized because of their layer of fat, which was used to render oil for lighting.”

BRONZE AWARD WINNER. FEEDING FRENZY. Cape Petrel, Daption capense. View Point, Antarctica.

Photographer Jonas Beyer says, “I was cruising in a Zodiac when I saw a group of Cape Petrels in the water. As I approached I could see they were feeding on something, along with Giant Petrels and Snow Petrels. I had my big underwater rig with me and thought it was a chance for a split sea surface photo. As I slowly drifted closer, I noticed all the birds were too busy feeding to care about me being around. So I ‘parked’ the boat next to some ice, leaned over the side and dropped my underwater housing in the water, then waited for the birds to come close.”

BLACK AND WHITE

GOLD AWARD WINNER. HIPPO IMPRESSION. Hoary-headed Grebe, Poliocephalus poliocephalus. Sydney, Australia.

This photograph shows a Hoary-headed Grebe as it disappears below the surface of the water to feed, pushing into the depths with its huge paddle-like feet. Photographer David Stowe says, “I took the image from a raised platform high above the wetland. With a little bit of imagination, the combination of bird and ripples look like the head of a hippo.”

SILVER AWARD WINNER. ECLIPSE Grey Heron, Ardea cinerea. Okavango Delta, Botswana. William Steel, South Africa.

Here we see a Grey Heron as it looks for a roosting place in the top of a dead tree, illuminated by a full moon. Photographer William Steel says, “Knowing that it was a penumbral lunar eclipse, my guests and I went in search of a distinctive subject to place in front of it. As the heron jostled for position alongside some larger Marabou Storks, we managed to capture the moment just before the heron flew away.”

BRONZE AWARD WINNER. SNOW TURKEYS. Wild Turkey, Meleagris gallopavo. Carlton County, Minnesota, United States.

Photographer Sparky Stensaas says, “Three Wild Turkeys were transformed into abstract art when photographed through our living room picture window on a snowy day. Most photographers say you should never shoot through window glass, but I do it all the time and get good results. Rules were made to be broken!”

COMEDY BIRD PHOTO

GOLD AWARD WINNER. A MODERN DANCER. Adélie Penguin, Pygoscelis adeliae. Antarctica.

Photographer Nadia Haq says, “I was sitting on a Zodiac next to my husband and 10-year-old son near Brown Bluff, Antarctica, when we spotted a group of Adélie Penguins on some sea ice. As we slowly approached them, they started to toboggan on the ice, and I captured one of them sliding as if performing a modern dance move.”

SILVER AWARD WINNER. OPEN DOOR. Eastern Screech-Owl, Megascops asio. Clearwater, Florida, United States.

This image shows an Eastern Screech-Owl as it leans out of a ‘window’ of its home. These tiny owls are common in Florida’s densely populated areas. Photographer Robert Gloeckner says, “On my way to work one day I spotted a dead palm tree in Clearwater that had likely looking holes in its trunk. Later that day I checked again and spotted this owl peeking out of it. During nesting season, Eastern Screech- Owls often use premade holes in trees as their nesting cavity.”

BRONZE AWARD WINNER. HELMETSHRIKES PREPARING TO SLEEP. White-crested Helmetshrike, Prionops plumatus. Sabi Sands Nature Reserve, South Africa.

Photographer Gary Collyer says, “We were on a safari, and returning to camp in Sabi Sands, South Africa, on a dark March evening. We stopped, having picked up some unusual sounds, although unsure what they were. Then we heard chattering and fluttering high above us. When illuminated with the lamp on the vehicle, we saw these helmetshrikes huddling together against a night that was starting to turn colder. Another wonderful experience in Africa!”

URBAN BIRDS

GOLD AWARD WINNER. TREACHEROUS JOURNEY. Goosander, Mergus merganser. Warsaw, Poland.

Goosanders breed in the park about 1 kilometre from Poland’s life-giving River Vistula. Each mother has to move her brood to the river as quickly as possible due to lack of food and safety in the park. They make the journey through a series of underground passages and over a six-lane highway. Each year a group of volunteers help them cross this deadly road by stopping the traffic. After crossing they arrive at the River Vistula where they can feed and grow. Photographer Grzegorz Długosz says, “This image shows a mother Goosander crossing a smaller road because she decided not to use the scary and dark underground passage below it. Let’s hope there will always be enough volunteers to stop the traffic for baby ducks.”

SILVER AWARD WINNER. APARTMENT. Common Kestrel, Falco tinnunculus. Pécs, Hungary.

Photographer Boldizsár Szűcs says, “The owner of this apartment installed a nest box between the flowerbeds on his terrace, and Common Kestrels found it a suitable home. Kestrels have become urbanised due to the abundance of food in cities and the presence of tall buildings which are used for nesting. By installing similar nest boxes, we can create further favourable conditions for them. I used a wide-angle lens to take several pictures, which I then stitched together to create a panorama. As a result, you can see the urban environment behind the birds.”

BRONZE AWARD WINNER. CROWS WATCHING TV… TOWER Hooded Crow, Corvus cornix. Berlin, Germany.

“Berlin Television Tower, the tallest structure in Germany, provides a great background for urban photography,” says photographer Tomáš Grim. “But in January it turned out to be a challenge: I was freezing, it was dark from ‘sunrise’ to sunset, and pictures were poor. Disappointed, I stumbled upon a mixed Hooded Crow and Jackdaw roost, conveniently positioned against the desired tower. Taking acceptably sharp shots at 1/25th of a second, without a tripod and shivering, was not easy. The dark scene coupled with mostly cold tones perfectly captured my feelings. However, the sprinkle of warmer colours gave a hope of better times in the spring …

CONSERVATION (SINGLE IMAGE)

GOLD AWARD WINNER AND BIRD PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR 2024. WHEN WORLDS COLLIDE. Migratory birds, various. Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

“Each year during spring and fall migration over 1.3 billion birds die in North America as a result of window collisions. A network of dedicated volunteers heads out each morning to pick up the pieces. For over 30 years FLAP (Fatal Light Awareness Program) volunteers have patrolled cities worldwide in search of birds that have collided with windows. While their efforts have saved an impressive number of bird collision survivors, the majority do not survive the impact. But the fallen birds are never left behind,” says photographer Patricia Seaton Homonylo. “Their bodies are collected and their lives honoured in the annual ‘Bird Layout’. The Layout brings volunteers together to arrange the dead birds in an emotive and provocative display. While The Layout honours the fallen birds and brings closure for the volunteers, it is also a critical event that raises public awareness and highlights a global issue. I have volunteered with FLAP for four years and attend The Layout annually. From hawks to hummingbirds, this 2022 display includes more than 4,000 birds.”

SILVER AWARD WINNER. INMATES. Lovebirds, Agapornis species. Bali, Indonesia.

“This poignant image captures the harsh reality in one of Bali’s bird markets,” says photographer Cheng Kang. “The pair of lovebirds face each other in separate cages, appearing to say their final farewells, not knowing if they will see each other again. Who knows what joys they would have experienced together in their lush native rainforests and whether they will ever experience that again. Their silent connection transcends physical barriers, emphasizing the complex interaction between yearning for freedom and the urge to escape from captivity for human pleasure.”

BRONZE AWARD WINNER. POSTMORTEM. Northern Gannet, Morus bassanus. Isle of Noss, Scotland, United Kingdom.

A deceased Northern Gannet hangs from a fishing line as its former peers surround it and go about their daily lives on the Isle of Noss. Photographer Joshua Galicki says, “Gannets are known to use a variety of artificial nest material, and this is yet another threat to their numbers as they try to raise their offspring successfully. It is important to note that this same colony of birds was decimated the previous year due to avian flu. I took this image as a reminder of an additional obstacle we put in the way of this species, which is compounded with other challenges, including disease and climate change.”

15-17 YEARS

GOLD AWARD WINNER. HUMAN AND NATURE (AND DOG). Grey Plover, Pluvialis squatarola. Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany.

Young photographer Emil Wagner says, “I took this photo on a beautiful beach on the Baltic Sea. There are a number of waders and other birds here, but also many visitors who enjoy the beautiful landscape. In this case there was also a dog who initially did not notice the Grey Plover. The Grey Plover, however, did notice the dog and flew away shortly after I took the photo. While I do not believe this incident greatly stressed the bird, it is crucial to acknowledge the potential impact of human activity and tourism on protected species and their habitats.”

YOUNG BIRD PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR

The Young Bird Photographer of the Year 2024 was awarded to 14-year-old Spanish photographer Andrés Luis Domínguez Blanco for his creative angle on a nuthatch scrambling down an oak tree.

12-14 YEARS

GOLD AWARD WINNER AND YOUNG BIRD PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR 2024. PERSPECTIVE. Eurasian Nuthatch, Sitta europaea. Grazalema, Southern Spain, Spain.

Young photographer Andrés Luis Domínguez Blanco says, “I photographed this Eurasian Nuthatch at Grazalema in southern Spain using a wide-angle lens. An oak tree next to a river provides cover for species such as woodpeckers and nuthatches coming down to drink. I was using a remote-control set-up, and I just had to wait. Since these species like to climb trunks, I thought about what their vision and perspective would be like.”

11 AND UNDER

GOLD AWARD WINNER. TURBULENT FISH HUNT. Eurasian Bittern, Botaurus stellaris. Lake Federsee, Bad Buchau, Germany.

Young photographer Julian Mendla says, “Lake Federsee is a famous wintering area for numerous migratory birds. From November to March, Eurasian Bitterns are frequent visitors to this lake. As soon as the lake freezes over, these rare birds retreat to trenches through the reeds. Surprisingly, this individual was very close to the boardwalk that leads through the nature reserve. From there, I could easily watch its fishing campaign and take numerous photos.”

The 2025 competition is now open for entries at birdpoty.com. Photographers of all experience levels are invited to submit their best bird photos. All awarded images are published  in a hard-back coffee-table book by Princeton University Press. The Bird Photographer of the Year Vol. 9 is available from Amazon and Apple Books.

This year, the competition donated £5,000 to partner charity Birds on the Brink, which provides vital funding to grass-roots bird conservation projects around the world.