The winners of Bird Photographer of the Year 2026 have been announced, showcasing some of the most striking bird photography captured around the world this year. More than 24,000 images were submitted to the competition, with photographers competing across eight adult categories for the £3,000 grand prize.
This year’s top award went to UK photographer Henley Spiers for Sunball Rocket, a dramatic image of a northern gannet bursting through the ocean’s surface in Scottish waters. The Young Bird Photographer of the Year 2026 title was awarded to 16-year-old Parham Pourahmad from the United States for his enchanting photograph of a great horned owl framed against the full moon.
From bird portraits and behavior to flight, conservation, urban birds, and creative photography, the winning images highlight the incredible variety of ways photographers capture the world’s birds.
Scroll down to see some of the winning and awarded photographs from the contest.
#21 Youth Overall Winner; Gold, 15-17 Years: Moonlit Night By Parham Pourahmad
On a small island in Norway, I observed Red-Necked Phalaropes foraging for food. I found a pair of Great Horned Owls nesting in a park next to my house. I headed out at dusk, hoping to capture a strong portrait of the owls. However, my aim shifted when I saw the full moon rising on the horizon. One of the owls flew down to a pine tree, and I quickly moved into position to frame it against the moon.
Canon EOS Rebel T5i with Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary lens. 275mm; 1/500s; f/5.6; ISO 6,400.
4points
#22 Bronze, Urban Birds: The Window Of Dreams By Julian Fernandez Quilez
From inside an abandoned house, photographed remotely during the bird’s visits in and out, the evening light pours through the window and casts warm shadows across the aged wood. Among old books, flowers, and silence, a space is revealed that seems suspended in time. This is the home of this solitary rock thrush, which has made these forgotten walls both its refuge and its window onto the outside world.
Canon EOS 5D Mark III with Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens. 45mm; 1/160s; f/18; ISO 100.
3points
#23 Gold, 12-14 Years: Acrobat Of The Skies By Paula Czaeczine
On a small island in Norway, I observed Red-Necked Phalaropes foraging for food. One bird was swimming on a pond, pecking insects from the surface. Suddenly, it raised its head, stretched upwards, spread its wings, and fluttered into the air.
Luckily, I had selected a high frame rate and was able to capture this fascinating moment, as well as the small moth the bird had caught.
Nikon Z 8 with Nikon Z 600mm f/6.3 VR S lens. 600mm; 1/2,000s; f/6.3; ISO 1,100.
2points
#24 Gold, 11 And Under: Emerald Eye By Alberto Román Gómez
The Great Cormorants in the area where I live are elusive and do not easily allow themselves to be photographed. However, in London, they were far more trusting and allowed people to approach within a few metres. I was able to observe them calmly and see that they are beautiful black birds with a metallic sheen. What really caught my attention, though, were their emerald-green eyes, so I decided to take a close portrait of the bird’s head.
OM System OM-1 with OM-System 100-400mm f/5-6.3 lens. 321mm; 1/80s; f/6.3; ISO 2,000.
2points
#25 Bronze, Bird Behaviour: Kleptoparasitism By Bernhard Schubert
At the beach in Tulum, I positioned myself parallel to a fisherman whose unwanted catch repeatedly triggered aerial skirmishes overhead. The frigatebirds cruised just metres above him, and whenever a fish was tossed upward, the airspace erupted. I tracked the initial grab and ensuing chase with a fast shutter speed and wide AF area, anticipating erratic direction changes.
Canon EOS R5 with Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1 L IS USM lens. 300mm; 1/4,000s; f/10; ISO 3,200.
2points
#26 Bronze, Creative Perspectives: Grebe Impression By Julian Łoziński
A young great crested grebe photographed using the ICM technique. I took the photo from a kayak, and I must admit that combining the aforementioned technique with kayaking was a bit of a challenge. Initially, I held the camera still at a focal length of 400mm, then zoomed out to 100mm, pointed the lens at the trees on the lake shore where the light was shining through, and in this way, I added structure to the frame by moving the camera. Fortunately, both the photographer and the camera stayed dry.
Canon EOS R5 Mark II with Canon RF 100-400mm f/5.6-8 IS USM lens. 400mm; 2.5s; f/8; ISO 100.
2points