The Bird Photographer of the Year contest winners have been revealed. Here are the best images

by Dannielle Maguire

The winners of the Bird Photographer of the Year award have been announced, with photos by two Australians among the top shots. 

The international competition is billed as a "celebration of avian beauty and diversity", inviting photographers of all ages from novice hobbyists to pros to submit their most stunning bird photos in several categories. 

Jason Moore won gold in the black and white category for a close up of two ducks in Perth.

"A young musk duck seems mesmerised by a drop of water falling from its mother's mouth. Of course, it's actually interested in the morsel of food that she has in her bill. Their coloration may be drab, but they more than make up for it with their beautiful expressions and fascinating displays."(© Jason Moore/Bird Photographer of the Year)

Cheng Kang picked up a bronze award for a snap of an Australasian darter on a foggy winter morning in Victoria. 

"On a winter morning, fog swirled around perched birds and dead trees like tentacles. It was a breathtaking sight that filled me with calm and tranquillity. Converting the image to black and white in post-processing further emphasised the sense of stillness and peace."(© Cheng Kang/Bird Photographer of the Year)

The winners were announced on the Bird photographer of the Year website earlier this week. 

The competition first began in 2016 and attracts entries from around the world. 

About 250 of the best images are selected and printed in a coffee table book, which is now in its eighth edition.

The competition is taking entries for the 2024 contest, which closes on December 10. 

Here are the winners of the other categories, noting we left out the winner of the Conservation category, which featured an image of a dead turtle dove. 

Bird behaviour — and overall winner:

"During the breeding season, a female peregrine falcon fiercely protects her young, attacking anything that comes near the nest. For four years, I attempted to capture these rare moments of her attacking large brown pelicans with incredible speed and agility. The high-speed chase made it challenging to capture a close-up shot with a long lens. The falcon's precision was amazing as it struck at the pelican's head."(©Jack Zhi/Bird Photographer of the Year)

Birds in the environment:

"Flooding meant that a field of sunflowers could not be harvested, and thousands of birds, including greenfinches (Chloris chloris), goldfinches (Carduelis carduelis) and bramblings, flocked to it in winter. Despite their colourful plumage making them easy targets, when foraging their colours blend with the surroundings, making them hard for predators to spot. Using a wide- angle lens masked with snow and dried sunflowers, I photographed a flock of bramblings from their perspective, with one perched in front of my camera."(© Mateusz Piesiak/Bird Photographer of the Year)

Comedy bird photo:

"The purple heron is a migratory bird that nests in the lake basins of the Italian Peninsula and feeds mainly on fish, although it also preys on mice, snakes, toads and other creatures. In this shot, the heron caught a large crucian carp (Carassius carassius) and voraciously swallowed it after several attempts to turn the fish onto its side."(©Antonio Aguti/Bird Photographer of the Year)

Urban birds:

"During winter migration, owls from northern Finland often head to the south where they can find more food due to less snow. This great grey owl chose a cemetery with abundant voles as its hunting ground. While hunting, the owl would often stop on tombstones or other structures to observe the area. Keeping a safe distance, I followed the owl and managed to capture a fleeting moment when it landed briefly on a beautiful angel statue."(©Arto Leppänen/Bird Photographer of the Year)

Birds in flight:

"The sword-billed hummingbird, common in the Andean forests, has the world's longest bill relative to its size. This bird's unique bill, adapted to feed on flowers with long corollas, makes it a vital pollinator, as bees and butterflies can't reach the nectar and so don't pollinate these plants. This image captures the bird approaching a feeder, with natural backgrounds and lighting."(©Rafael Armada/Bird Photographer of the Year)

Best portrait:

"Venturing into the tropical forest, I was excited to spot the rare glistening-green tanager. After hours of waiting, I saw the vivid-green bird on a perfect heart-shaped leaf. Its shimmering feathers reflected a dazzling array of colours. I captured every detail, grateful for this magical moment amid the lush jungle backdrop."(© Nicolas Reusens/Bird Photographer of the Year)

Ages 15 to 17:

"Blackbird singing in the dead of night. Blue atmosphere and red moon. Getting up before sunrise allows you to experience the magical awakening of animals. The blackbird is one of the first animals to awaken."(©Anton Trexler /Bird Photographer of the Year)

Aged 12 to 14:

"In a small inlet in Örnsköldsvik, there are terns everywhere during summer. So, one afternoon on an overcast day, I headed down to the water with the goal of photographing terns in flight. Instead of that, I ended up photographing an Arctic and common tern perched together on a railing. By utilising the white of their bodies, the overcast weather and the bright reflections in the water, I captured a high-key image of the two terns."(© Harry Sedin/Bird Photographer of the Year)

Aged 11 and under:

"Pelling is one of the most beautiful hill stations in India. I observed so many birds when I visited the area. I snapped this very colourful bird in a garden near our hotel. The extremely vibrant blue colour makes this bird so beautiful."(© Arko Saha/Bird Photographer of the Year)

First published at ABC News, September 9, 2023