Another year, another fantastic Audubon Photography Awards. For the 14 installment of our annual competition, we had more than 2,200 individuals from across the United States and Canada submit almost 9,000 photographs and videos. Then the hard part began: After reviewing every anonymous image and video file, three panels of expert judges selected just 13 winners and honorable mentions . Be sure to check them out if you haven't already.
But as always, with so many amazing submissions, we couldn't stop there. So here are 100 more of our favorite photos for your enjoyment. Shared in no particular order, these shots show birds from around the world in all of their breathtaking variety and wonder. The images also illustrate the many different techniques and approaches used by wildlife photographers, which you can read about in the detailed “behind the shot” stories for each photograph.
After perusing this gallery, you might feel inspired to pick up a camera and try your own hand at avian photography. If so, our photography section is a good place to get started. There you'll find articles covering tips and how-to's , Audubon's ethical guidelines for wildlife photography, and gear recommendations . And if you end up capturing one or more images you're especially pleased with, consider entering next year's awards!
Category : Amateur
Location : Eastern Shore, Maryland
Camera : Sony Alpha 1 with a Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens; 1/2500 second at f/4; ISO 1250
Behind the Shot : As I drove home one day, I noticed the backlit flashing wings of a group of Tree Swallows hunting over wetlands. I decided to dedicate the next weeks of my photography outings to these swallows flying in early morning light. I would wake up hours before sunrise and make my way to the wetlands to set up my equipment, spending hours observing the birds and understanding their patterns. Thousands of photographs later, I was thrilled to capture eye contact and full wing spread in this frame. The backdrop of the distant trees creates a beautiful bokeh effect, and the sun's rays filtering through the leaves give the image a warm and ethereal quality.
Category : Amateur
Location : Orlando Wetlands Park, in Christmas, Florida
Camera : Canon EOS R5 with a Canon EF 800mm f/5.6L IS USM lens and Canon Mount Adapter EF-EOS R; 1/200 second at f/5.6; ISO 1600
Behind the Shot : For me, Florida is a semi-regular travel destination where I can visit some of the wildest and most biologically diverse ecosystems in the country. I try to use my photography to capture the state’s unique and abundant beauty and share my love for this place with others. After shooting one evening at Orlando Wetlands Park in February 2023, a couple of friends and I made our way back along a boardwalk. There we saw a group of Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks congregated on the railing. I gently perched my camera on the railing as well, taking care not to disturb them. We were lucky to have had our ducks in a row that evening.
Category : Amateur
Location : Bolsa Chica State Beach, Orange County, California
Camera : Canon EOS 7D Mark II with a Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens and a
Canon Extender EF 1.4x; 1/1000 second at f/8.0; ISO 200
Behind the Shot : I was sitting on the beach, occasionally glancing at some striking Heermann’s Gulls and a mixed flock of Elegant and Royal Terns. Suddenly, a male Elegant Tern started a
courtship display with his characteristic proud pose—an erect crest and drooping wings—while offering a small eel to a potential mate. At that same moment, two birds were walking and flying in the background, giving a composite feel to a single image. The terns’ bright orange bills added the necessary color to an otherwise monochrome scene. Many photographers ignore bird colonies due to the difficulty of isolating a bird with a clean background, but with patience, flock photos can accentuate the natural behavior of social species.
Category : Amateur
Location : Arapaho National Forest, Georgetown, Colorado
Camera : Nikon Z9 with a Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/4E FL ED VR; 1/3200 second at f/4; ISO 160
Behind the Shot : White-tailed Ptarmigan live year-round above the tree line in the alpine tundra. Seeing them in winter is a challenge. Their white winter plumage is excellent camouflage, and getting to them requires skiing or snowshoeing from mountain passes or the valley below. I was lucky to find this ptarmigan after I snowshoed up a mountain and discovered it feeding on dried willow leaves, seeds, and stems exposed from the frequent scouring winds high on the ridgeline. As I laid in the snow to get images at eye-level, the ptarmigan continued to feed on the willow remnants without paying me any attention. To my delight, it even got closer and preened in a small clearing.
Category : Amateur
Location : Mullet Key, Fort De Soto Park, Florida
Camera : Canon EOS R5 with a Canon RF100-500mm F/4.5-7.1 L IS USM at 400mm lens; 1/3200 second at f/8; ISO 800
Behind the Shot : A Scissor-tailed Flycatcher was seen, rather unusually, at a county park near me in Central Florida. Off I went the very next morning, determined to see the bird. After several attempts, I noticed a light-colored bird hopping around in the grass. I had trouble keeping it in focus, so I increased my shutter speed and hoped it would fly. Much to my delight, it flew up into a tree with a large katydid. With seconds to spare, I positioned myself for the best light and view. The bird tossed its katydid into the air for a big gulp. Never in my wildest dreams did I expect the flycatcher to provide such a fantastic display with its tail feathers!
Category : Amateur
Location : Fort de Soto Park, Pinellas County, Florida
Camera : Canon EOS R5 with a Canon 600mm f/4 IS II lens and Canon 1.4x TC III; 1/3200 second at f/5.6; ISO 800
Behind the Shot : I arrived before sunrise and schlepped my gear down 1,000 yards of beach before spying this bird across a tidal lagoon. I ditched my shoes and shirt and waded into the water. I made a wide arc to get the light behind me and dropped to my stomach. The water was eight inches deep, so I crawled closer, my lens kept dry by my aching arms. My slow approach put the bird at ease, and I captured hundreds of images. In this shot, the bird is retracting its head after stabbing at a fish. The windless conditions rendered the surface perfectly flat. Low angle photography is my favorite sort, so I was stoked with this result.
Category : Amateur
Location : Bolivar Flats Audubon Shorebird Sanctuary, Port Bolivar, Texas
Camera : Canon EOS R3 with a Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM lens and Canon Extender EF 1.4x III and Skimmer Ground Pod; 1/1600 second at f/9; ISO 6400
Behind the Shot : While taking shorebird photos lying in the mudflats with my ground pod along the Texas Gulf Coast, I found this group of birds riding the waves on a mat of seaweed attached to the shoreline. It was a cloudy and windy day, and I had low expectations on any decent photo opportunities, but this group of birds was entertaining and fun to photograph. The waves would come crashing in and force some of the small birds off of the seaweed, but the American Avocet held his ground.
Category : Amateur
Location : Missoula, Montana
Camera : Nikon Z9 with a Nikon AF-NIKKOR 600mm f//4G ED VR lens; 1/2500 second at f/4; ISO 8000
Behind the Shot : In the height of summer, Eastern Kingbirds were flocking to the banks of the Clark Fork River, where I observed many actively hunting for insects on the wing. In this particular area, the river was shallow and narrow enough for me to wade into the middle of the river with my camera and tripod. On the evening I captured this image, I spent about three hours standing in the knee-deep water photographing the kingbirds as they hunted in the waning evening light. Despite being taken in August, the river was still quite chilly, leading to slightly numb toes, but a full memory card with images of this wonderful bird.
Category : Professional
Location : San Jose, California
Camera : Nikon Z9 with a Nikon NIKKOR Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S lens and built-in 1.4x teleconverter; 1/3200 second at f/4.0; ISO 800
Behind the Shot : I was standing near some trees when I noticed an Anna's Hummingbird picking lichen off a branch. She would grab some, fly off in the direction of nearby bushes, and return a few minutes later to gather more. I know lichen is a material hummingbirds use when building a nest, but I had never seen a bird gather it. The hummingbird ignored my presence, allowing me to take photographs of her approaching the lichen from multiple angles. I chose this image because I like the wing shape, the way her body is positioned, and the way her bill is just touching the branch to remove the lichen.
Category : Amateur
Location : Littleton, Colorado
Camera : Nikon D850 with a Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 600mm f/4E FL ED VR lens; 1/400 second at f/4; ISO 5000
Behind the Shot : I was photographing a group of Wood Ducks as they swam through the reflection of golden autumn trees. As the light receded from the pond, I was about to head home when this beautiful Wood Duck leapt into a nearby crabapple tree with a background of autumn maple leaves. He swallowed apple after apple. Several apples fell into the water and the other ducks chased each other around for the juicy snacks. It was a beautiful reminder that we never know what these birds will do in the wild and patience can reward you with unique behaviors that make wildlife photography special.
Category : Youth
Location : Menlo Park, California
Camera : Nikon Z5 with a Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR lens and Nikon FTZ II Mount Adapter: 4 seconds at f/5.6; ISO 3200
Behind the Shot : A friend told me about a tree cavity that housed a family of Western Screech-Owls, so I set up my tripod near the cavity and waited. Once the sun was completely below the horizon, the family appeared in the cavity, the parents flying around and capturing food for their young. As it got darker and the owls flew to different perches, it became extremely difficult to capture shots. Somehow, I finally spotted one landing on a large branch. I turned toward what I thought was the owl, manually focused, and took three photos at a four-second exposure before the bird flew off. I ended up perfectly focused on the owl and got the shot.
Category : Professional
Location : Fort De Soto Park, Tierra Verde, Florida
Camera : Canon 1D X Mark II with a Canon 600 f/4L IS III USM lens; 1/400 second at f/4; ISO 4000
Behind the Shot : Last September, I waded out to a sandbar to photograph a pair of migrating American Avocets. With late summer storms off in the distance, the light was absolutely stunning. As the sun dipped lower—and I got wetter and sandier—I thought about heading back in. Before I went, I glanced over my shoulder to check the light. As I did, two beautiful Roseate Spoonbills flew in and landed close to me. I didn’t want to spook them, so I slowly shifted my position and quickly adjusted my settings. My angle was pretty awkward, but I started shooting and hoped for the best. No matter how many times I photograph spoonbills, I still get excited every time.
Category : Professional
Location : Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
Camera : Canon EOS R5 with a Canon EF 600mm F/4 IS III USM lens and Canon Extender EF 2X III and RF Adapter; 1/1250 second at f/8; ISO 1600
Behind the Shot : Last September, I spent a week observing and photographing the behavior of a family of American Dippers that frequented the streams of the Yellowstone River. I would wade into the fast-moving water with my tripod before the action began. On the day I took this photograph, I spotted a dipper perched on a log in the middle of the river, basking in the sun. Suddenly, the bird took flight and flew close to me, diving into the water to hunt for aquatic invertebrates. Despite its best efforts, the juvenile failed to catch many insects. As it plunged its head underwater one more time, I pressed the shutter. When I checked the screen, I couldn't believe my eyes.
Category : Professional
Location : Myakka River State Park, Sarasota, Florida
Camera : Canon EOS-1D X Mark II with a Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM lens; 1/320 sec at f/4; ISO 4000
Behind the Shot : We are lucky enough to see large quantities of Limpkins year-round in Myakka River State Park. They feast on their favorite apple snails and other mollusks. I have seen many photos of Limpkins with food and in flight, but I was hoping to capture something different. I was lucky on this evening to catch one in an elegant pose that gave me a clear view of its long toes and fanned wing feathers. The sun had just gone down, and I was losing light quickly, so I increased my ISO and overexposed the image in hopes of a brightly lit frame and few shadows. I love the idea of sharing a bird people might be unfamiliar with
Category : Youth
Location : La Jolla, California
Camera : Nikon D850 with a Sigma 60-600mm F4.5-6.3 DG DN OS lens; 1/1600 second at f/6.3; ISO 500
Behind the Shot : It was mid-morning when I met up with a group of fellow teenage girls. We had one thing in common: We all carried cameras. It was a gathering for a nature photography workshop through Girls Who Click, a nonprofit organization that promotes young female wildlife photographers. After receiving guidance from the workshop host, we split into groups. My group began exploring the area around a small cove. Before long, we came across a pair of Western Gulls and their three fuzzy chicks sitting on a ledge. I took several photos from different angles, and this shot caught my eye. It is as if the young chick is imagining what it will look like when it grows up.
Category : Youth
Location : Rockport, Massachusetts
Camera : Nikon D850 with a Tamron SP 150-600mm F/5-6.3 Di VC USD G2 lens; 1/500 second at f/6.3; ISO 1400
Behind the Shot : Every year, I take several day trips to the northern Massachusetts shoreline. While I’ve typically fixated on Harlequin Ducks, this year I shifted my focus to sandpipers. I’ve always enjoyed photographing them and observing their behavior, and I knew if I lay down on the rocks for a while, they would quickly get used to me. Soon enough, they walked within feet of me, nearly landing on me to avoid the crashing waves. I crawled along the rocks to get a better vantage point and pictures for so long that the sunlight faded. I snapped a shot right as a huge wave crested behind this sandpiper, spraying both me and the bird with saltwater.
Category : Amateur
Location : Husavik, Iceland
Camera : Canon EOS R5 with a Canon RF100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM lens; 1/800 second at f/7.1; ISO 2000
Behind the Shot : I rented a cabin on a large pond near Iceland’s Skjalfandi Bay for three nights last June. We had a brief window during our visit of cloudy weather with no rain or wind. I quickly donned my rain gear, grabbed my camera, and headed toward the ocean. I followed a walking path that wove its way through lupine fields on one side and paddocks containing Icelandic ponies on the other. Several Redwings flitted among the lupines, calling and displaying as they perched atop the flowers. The colorful scene of soft purples and greens was a perfect backdrop for the Redwing’s muted colors. This image was my favorite of the bunch I took.
Category : Amateur
Location : Holmdel, New Jersey
Camera : Canon EOS R5 with a Canon EF 200-400mm f/4L @ 300mm lens; 1/1250 second at f/8; ISO 2500
Behind the Shot : This photo was taken in the backyard of my home. During each fall and winter, Northern Cardinals will come to eat berries off the trees in the area. On this afternoon after rain turned into snow, several cardinals came to feast on berries, and I was able to capture this image of one of them.
Category : Amateur
Location : Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada
Camera : Sony Alpha 1 with a Sony FE f/4 600mm GM OSS lens; 1/800 second at f/4.5; ISO 1250
Behind the Shot : When I found an active Red-naped Sapsucker nest, I saw firsthand the work parents did to feed and care for their brood. With my gear on a tripod, I positioned myself to watch their comings and goings. The chicks inside were too young to poke out of the hole, but both parents regularly brought larva and insects to the nest. They’d also carry off fecal sacs—little packages of poop—like the one covered in wood chips pictured here. Sometimes, the female would try to exit the nest just as the male flew in, blocking the hole. He would then lean his body to the side to allow her to fly out.
Category : Amateur
Location : Ontario, California
Camera : Sony Alpha 1 with a Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens; 1/500 second at f/4.5; ISO 320
Behind the Shot : Several nests of Burrowing Owls appear yearly at the very edge of a well-used road near the Ontario airport. Most are cautious and timid, but one group of birds lives on a busy highway and seem undisturbed by vehicles. I always arrive before sunrise in hopes of observing the family and young owlets when they first emerge from their nest. Crouching on the ground in the shadow of my car, I use a long lens so I don’t have to get too close. On this morning, two young owlets nuzzled each other as they waited for their parents to bring breakfast. One young bird played with and nibbled at a stalk of wild mustard.
Category : Professional
Location : Lafreniere Park, Metairie, Louisiana
Camera : Nikon D850 with an AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/4E FL ED VR; 1/500 second at f/6.3; ISO 160
Behind the Shot : This park offers winter refuge for hundreds of Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks and a variety of other migrating birds. On this January morning, the temperatures were well below freezing, an unusual occurrence in southern Louisiana. I went to the park before sunrise hoping I could catch the backlit, frosty breath of a singing bird. I positioned myself low on the ground, which unfortunately, becomes covered in bird excrement in winter. To avoid the messy poo, I wear fishing waders and don’t worry about looking like an oddball at an urban park. As I faced the rising sun, one duck lifted its head above the others and stretched its neck as it let out its breath while whistling.
Category : Professional
Location : Elliston, Newfoundland, Canada
Camera : Canon EOS R5 with a Canon 600 f/4L IS III USM lens; 1/320 second at f/6.3; ISO 5000
Behind the Shot : Last summer while on a family trip, I snuck in a little camera time to photograph Atlantic Puffins. My husband and daughter joined me on our last night, climbing a little hill to watch. As I photographed a few puffins in the flowers, my daughter noticed the moon rising and signaled to me. What a moment! I quickly got to a spot where I could photograph the birds and moon together. Unfortunately, swarms of bugs ruined my first shots, but I got some photographs without them. Quite a few puffins flew in and out, so the next challenge became isolating one individual. I loved this one with the single bird and the moon.
Category : Amateur
Location : Rio Lagartos, Yucatan, Mexico
Camera : Canon EOS-1D X Mark II with a Canon EF 800mm f/5.6 lens; 1/2500 second at f/10; ISO 640
Behind the Shot : Every May, about 20,000 flamingos come to mate in Rio Lagartos, Mexico. The estuary is perfect for flamingos, who enjoy the red algae, plankton, and brine shrimp that live in the salt water. I reached the area by taking a four-hour drive from Cancun and took this photograph while standing in waist-deep water. These four flamingos moved and stretched while I photographed, showing the flexibility and grace of their long necks as they fought for their mates.
Category : Amateur
Location : Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Farmington, Utah
Camera : Olympus OM-1 M.Zuiko Digital ED 150-400mm f/4.5 TC1.25X IS PRO lens; 1/1600 second at f/6.3; ISO 800
Behind the Shot : The day I captured this photograph there was a dusting of snow on the ground, partially cloudy skies, and tons of birds to watch. I decided to take a different trail than usual because I was hoping to see a Great Blue Heron. As I walked, I startled a group of pheasants that immediately took flight (and scared the daylights out of me). I quickly swung my lens around and started shooting. The moment happened so fast I barely had time to get my eye to the viewfinder, but I caught a glimpse of the pheasant's wings out and knew I got at least one good shot.
Category : Professional
Location : Manning Provincial Park, British Columbia, Canada
Camera : Nikon D500 with a Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR; 1/1000 second at f/7.1; ISO 1400
Behind the Shot : I find ravens completely fascinating; they are highly complex and extremely intelligent animals. I take every opportunity I can to visit Common Ravens as I am always blown away by the intimate bonds they share with one another. As these two preened each other’s feathers, the raven on the left rested its beak on the other, a fleeting moment I was happy to capture as it shows the love these two have for each other, a bond that lasts a lifetime.
Category : Amateur
Location : St. Charles, Missouri
Camera : Canon EOS 5D Mark III with a Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary lens; 1/320 second at f/7.1; ISO setting 2000
Behind the Shot : My wife and I have a small patch of woods with a creek behind our home. As we continue to improve our landscape, we use discarded material and deadfall as habitat for small birds. This photo was taken in early March, when wrens begin building their nests for breeding season. Nearby plant down seemed to be the connection between these two homebuilders.
Category : Amateur
Location : Alaska
Camera : Canon EOS 5D Mark IV with a Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS III USM lens; 1/800 second at f/6.3; ISO 800
Behind the Shot : A pair of Gyrfalcons nests under a roadway bridge near my home. On a late June evening, I was surprised to find the young falcons standing on the structure screeching as they waited for their parent to bring dinner. Initially the light was harsh, but there was potential for some nice backlight when the sun dropped behind the ridge across the valley. When the sun finally set, backlight accentuated a halo of downy feathers around the fledglings. Strands of a spider web lofted in the still air and swarms of gnats and mosquitoes glowed. This shot was taken just as one of the parents landed with prey. The hungry youngsters instantly launched, screaming towards their provider.
Category : Amateur
Location : Gold Harbor, South Georgia Island
Camera : Nikon D300 with an AF-S NIKKOR 24-120mm f/4G ED VR at 24mm lens and UV filter; 1/250 second at f/8; ISO 400
Behind the Shot : Wandering the beaches of South Georgia Island, where animal activity abounds, is heaven for wildlife photographers. When I was there, an elephant seal pup carcass washed up on the beach and a group of hungry and aggressive Brown Skuas and Giant Petrels quickly attacked. I slowly approached the birds, who took no interest in my presence. I got down low with my wide-angle lens and tried to capture the shot at their eye level, with the mountains and sky in the background. The birds were more concerned with getting a quick bite and protecting their position on the carcass. I like this particular shot, as I captured a skua coming in for a landing.
Category : Amateur
Location : Gwynns Falls, Baltimore, Maryland
Camera : Canon EOS R5 with an EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM lens; 1/1250 second at f/4.0; ISO 640
Behind the Shot : As winter was coming to a close, the forecast called for a heavy snowstorm. Knowing that some Wood Ducks had already returned to the local pond, I quickly headed there, donned my waders, and slipped into the frigid waters with the hope of capturing something unique. I eagerly tried out the floating device I built over the winter that consisted of two pieces of plywood around a boogie board and a clamp to safely hold my camera and long lens. The contraption allowed me to shoot just inches above the water’s surface without having to adjust tripod legs. My effort was rewarded with an eye-level, head-on scenic photo of this colorful drake in the snowfall.
Category : Amateur
Location : San Diego, California
Camera : Nikon D850 with a Sigma 60-600mm F4.5-6.3 DG DN OS lens; 1/1600 second at f/6.3; ISO 2000
Behind the Shot : On a walk through my neighborhood one spring morning, I entered the domain of a territorial Allen's Hummingbird. The bird’s photogenic looks and energetic personality never cease to enamor me. It chased away rivals and fed at purple Pride of Madeira flowers, returning to his perch on a chain-link fence. I looked for a unique way to capture him and settled for a view parallel to the fence. I set my aperture low for a shallow depth of field, noticing how the blurred fence added an intriguing element to the picture. I love how this image captures the bird’s orange gorget and colorful splashes of pink bougainvillea flowers in the background.
Category : Amateur
Location : Napo Wildlife Center, Ecuador
Camera : Canon 5D Mark IV with a Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens and a Tiffen Haze-1 filter; 1/125 second at f/5; ISO 1600
Behind the Shot : After a guided canoe ride down Napo River tributary and a short hike into the Amazon, I came upon a small open-air shelter. The opening faced a clay lick where I expected to see a swarm of colorful parrots and canaries biting bits of clay that serve as nutritional supplements to their diet, but the birds never came. Finally, two Scarlet Macaws stopped by to drink from the water below the clay lick. I got an interesting shot when one took a long drink and looked up with water still dripping off his beak. The light shone through the canopy onto the bird, highlighting its color and the sparkle of the water droplets.
Category : Amateur
Location : San Mateo County, California
Camera : Sony Alpha 1 with a Sony FE 400mm f/2.8 GM OSS lens and Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter; 1/1600 second at f/4; ISO 640
Behind the Shot : I was out walking along the California coast watching for migratory birds when I noticed a marsh area next to the beach. A few of my target birds eventually flew by and some cute seals in the ocean played peekaboo, but this beautiful bird circling the lagoon really grabbed my attention. Long-billed Curlews are not uncommon in my area. However, the species’ elegance and almost impossibly long, thin, curved bill always make it stand out among numerous shorebirds. When this bird finally landed in the lagoon, it held its wings up while its long legs ran on the water in what looks like a beautiful dance.
Category : Youth
Location : Pisgah National Forest, Candler, North Carolina
Camera : Canon EOS 7D Mark II with a Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM; 1/60 second at f/6.3; ISO 500
Behind the Shot : Most days around peak migration, I get up before sunrise and visit the temperate rainforest near my house. I bird where towhees call but are rarely seen as they forage in the newly green undergrowth. One day, I saw one hop to the lowest branch of a tulip tree and continue to climb. I climbed a hill so I could be level with the top of the tree, where the bird started singing just as the sun peeked through the forest on the opposite ridge. I took a few photos before it flew away, but I didn’t think I captured anything useable. I only noticed the quality of this series when I got home.
Category : Amateur
Location : Republic, Washington
Camera : Nikon D850 with a Tamron SP 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Di VC USD G2 lens; 1/500 second at f/6.3; ISO 800
Behind the Shot : Every year around the end of April, the male Rufous Hummingbirds return to the mountains in the eastern part of the state. I watch them enjoy my garden, complete with feeders, water features, and loads of native plants. The male Rufous Hummingbird is my favorite with his vibrant orange gorget and overall fierceness. I usually hear their very distinctive vocalizations before I actually see them. The male Calliope and Black-chinned hummingbirds are usually not far behind. This particular male returned to this perch over and over again. I focused on the perch and waited for him to return. I really liked the complementary clear background, and the wispy moss really added to the shot.
Category : Amateur
Location : Dorchester County, Maryland
Camera : Canon EOS R5 with a Canon EF 600mm f/4 IS III USM lens; 1/2500 second at f/4; ISO 640
Behind the Shot : I was driving slowly along a remote, coastal road looking for migrant birds when I came across this Common Gallinule itching to cross the road. I backed my vehicle to the roadside and slowly got out and laid underneath the car with my telephoto lens. Almost instantly the gallinule decided to walk across, giving me an intimate perspective and unique opportunity for an interesting shot. I was able to use the yellow lines of the road to support the composition and also tell a story.
Category : Amateur
Location : Eastern Shore, Maryland
Camera : Sony Alpha 1 with a Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens; 1/2000 at f/4; ISO 400
Behind the Shot : One morning I spent hours lying in the muddy marshes of Maryland’s Eastern Shore photographing birds. Eventually one of the Snowy Egrets that frequent this area flew in close to me to hunt. The morning sun had lit the background foliage gold, and the bird landed in shadow, providing a yellow backdrop for the scene and nice even light on the subject. I watched the bird hunt, hoping to capture some action before the perfect conditions changed. Luckily, I was able to capture this frame right when the bird dove down for prey. I was very happy to be able to freeze the bird, splash, and water droplets created by the action.
Category : Amateur
Location : San Jorge Eco Lodge, lower Tandayapa Valley, Ecuador
Camera : Nikon D850 with a Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR lens; 1/640 second at f/5.6; ISO 12800
Behind the Shot : After a wonderful trip to the Galapagos Islands, we couldn’t resist heading north out of Quito to experience the enormous variety of birds in the Andes Mountains. Our final stop was an eco-lodge in the cloud forest. Early one morning, we went to a bird blind positioned in an area filled with insects and the bug-eating birds that feast on them. There was so much activity it was hard to know where to look first. I followed this colorful flycatcher as he caught a moth and brought it to this beautiful mossy branch. As he tossed the moth around to reposition it, I captured a series of seven shots, culminating with this photo.
Category : Professional
Location : Greenfield Lake, Wilmington, North Carolina
Camera : Canon EOS R3 with a Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM lens; 1/200 second at f/7.1; ISO 3200
Behind the Shot : I am obsessed with juvenile herons, and my absolute favorites are the ones of Greenfield Lake. Adults usually nest in the thick overgrowth near the base of water-bound bald cypress trees, so their chicks are rarely seen by visitors who stay to the walking paths. But from my kayak their activity is apparent. In the late spring I set out, camera at the ready, in search of the tuft-covered fledglings emerging onto the low cypress branches. There they explore their new, still flightless world. It is incredible to witness them learning to perch and forage for insects and fish, and in the best-case scenarios, see them in their first flight to the nearby trees!
Category : Professional
Location : Nickerson Beach, Long Island, New York
Camera : Canon-1D X Mark II with a Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS III USM lens; 1/2000 second at f/4.5; ISO 800
Behind the Shot : To capture my favorite moments of terns in action, I listen carefully. Common Tern chicks can hear their parent calling from a distance as the adults return to shore with food. In their excitement to get fed, the chicks call and run out of their hiding in hopes of being the first to receive their meal from the incoming parent. Chaos ensues as food passes between siblings and rival terns close by. During the wild commotion captured here, a Laughing Gull proceeded to dive in to take advantage of the tug-of-war below. The mother tern instantly went on the offense, flanking the intruding gull in flight while screaming wildly.
Category : Professional
Location : Long Island, New York
Camera : Canon 5D Mark IV with a Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 L IS USM II lens; 1/1250 second at f/5.6; ISO 1600
Behind the Shot : I took this photo while photographing a group of Royal Terns. I was surprised when I saw a Semipalmated Sandpiper flying in from the back and darting quickly around the feeding terns. As I observed this scene, the concept of scale came to mind. Scale can be used to create emphasis and draw attention to certain elements in a composition. Larger elements are typically more dominant and eye-catching, while smaller elements can be used to support and complement them. In this photograph, I aimed to reverse this composition rule by focusing on the small bird and keeping the Royal Tern out of focus.
Category : Professional
Location : Lakeshore Park, Novi, Michigan
Camera : Sony Alpha A7R II with a Sony FE 200-600mm F/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens; 1/250 second at f/6.3; ISO 400
Behind the Shot : On a frigid late winter morning, I headed to a local park with my camera in hand for fresh air, exercise, and nature photography. I pulled into the parking lot and saw two foraging Sandhill Cranes. Using my camera and a monopod, I took several dozen photographs, excited to see them in a landscape with colors that so beautifully harmonized with the colors of their feathers. Then the male crane silently began moving closer and closer to the female. He leaped onto her and steadied himself for a second before mating. I captured this shot at that exact moment, thrilled to witness and photograph these beautiful birds with such an awe-inspiring display of near-perfect symmetry.
Category : Youth
Location : San Diego, California
Camera : Nikon D850 with a Sigma 60-600mm F4.5-6.3 DG DN OS lens; 1/1600 second at f/6.3; ISO 2000
Behind the Shot : One late-January morning, while walking through my neighborhood, I caught sight of this adult male Allen's Hummingbird zipping around. After chasing away rival hummingbirds or sipping nectar from a nearby honeysuckle plant, he would return to the same branch in a blossoming fruit tree. Observing this behavior, I set up my camera and tripod while he was away, anticipating his next return. Hearing the familiar buzz of the hummingbird's wingbeats, I readied myself and clicked the shutter as the bird landed. I didn't quite get the image I wanted, so I waited for him to take off and land again. It took several tries and lots of patience, but I was finally rewarded with this clear shot.
Category : Professional
Location : Santa Cruz, California
Camera : Sony Alpha 1 with a Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens; 1/1250 second at f/4.0; ISO 1600
Behind the Shot : I was looking through my kitchen window when I saw a flock of Cedar Waxwings invade a cotoneaster plant across the street. I grabbed my camera and walked over, positioning myself behind a large tree so that I would not disturb the birds as they quickly picked berries, swallowing them whole. As I watched, I noticed one waxwing on the end of a branch, isolated from the others. It was picking lots of berries and would occasionally toss one into the air to reposition it. The fast frame rate of the camera (20 frames per second) allowed me to get this image of the berry just before it went down the hatch.
Category : Amateur
Location : Cranbrook, British Columbia, Canada
Camera : Nikon D850 with a Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-400mm f/4G ED VR II; 1/200 second at f/16; ISO 320
Behind the Shot : In May, Rufous, Calliope, and Black-chinned Hummingbirds migrate to British Columbia to feed on blooming wildflowers. The male Rufous dominate the show by fiercely guarding food sources and competing for females. I wanted to show the fearsome, aggressive nature of these amazing little birds by capturing a tightly framed, head-on shot while the bird was in flight. To get this image, I placed a mini hummingbird feeder among the flowers and used a low-level flash to freeze the wing action and illuminate the translucent chest feathers. I also used a telephoto lens from eight feet away, giving the shot a macro look with a shallow depth of field, even with a small aperture.
Category : Professional
Location : Tarpon Springs, Florida
Camera : Canon R3 with a Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS USM and Canon Extender EF 2x; 1/2500 second at f/8; ISO setting 640
Behind the Shot : I was observing this Osprey diving for fish in a lake near my house when it came up from the water with nothing in its talons. As it took to the air, it shook the water from its feathers, contorting its body with its eyes closed and neck extended, water droplets flying from its body. I love Osprey and love watching them dive.
Category : Professional
Location : Rapid City, Michigan
Camera : Sony Alpha 1 with a Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens and a Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter; 1/3200 second at f/5.6; ISO 500
Behind the Shot : I was photographing from the edge of the Torch River on a sunny March day. A number of migrating ducks like Bufflehead, Hooded Merganser, and Common Goldeneye fed on the river, which was mostly open and free of ice. As I scanned the water, I noticed a pair of Mallards. As they neared shore, a shaft of light hit the male’s head. I took a few shots with his eye centered in the light. It’s hard to know what to photograph at any given time, to know which opportunity will make the better picture or be more interactive. This was one of those times it seemed there was an opportunity to make the ordinary extraordinary.
Category : Amateur
Location : Half Moon Island, South Shetlands, Antarctica
Camera : Sony Alpha 1 with a Sony FE 100-400mm F/4.5-5.6 GM OSS lens; 1/1000 second at f/6.3; ISO 500
Behind the Shot : After a tumultuous crossing of the Drake Passage, numerous delays, and multiple weather problems, our unassuming ship finally arrived in Antarctica, where we met a beautiful and pristine snowy landscape. I wanted to capture a Chinstrap Penguin in a unique pose or situation and take advantage of the environment. While slowly making my way through the deep snow with a knee brace, I found a small snowbank. I then waited for a Chinstrap Penguin to waddle into the correct position. Finally, as my legs were getting tired and as the guides began to get all the guests back to the boat, I got the pose I imagined.
Category : Amateur
Location : Bolivar Flats Audubon Shorebird Sanctuary, Port Bolivar, Texas
Camera : Canon EOS R3 with a Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM lens and Canon Extender EF 1.4x III and Skimmer Ground Pod; 1/1000 second at f/7; ISO 1600
Behind the Shot : While taking shorebird photos lying in the mudflats with my ground pod, I spotted this group of pelicans flying toward me at a distance. I tracked them along their flight path until they dove close to the water and glided along just above the water, which made for a great photo opportunity. I decided to use a pano crop to emphasize the birds flying just above the water in the glow of the early morning sunrise.
Category : Amateur
Location : Madera Canyon, Coronado National Forest, Arizona
Camera : Canon EOS R5 with a Canon EF 800mm f/5.6L IS USM lens and Canon Mount Adapter EF-EOS R; 1/400 second at f/5.6; ISO 1600
Behind the Shot : My mom and dad took my two brothers and me to Arizona for the first time in the 1990s when I was in seventh grade. “There are trogons there,” my dad told me. Even then the distant promise of an exotic wildlife encounter could grab my attention. But we didn’t see trogons, which nest in Madera Canyon, a place that I would later learn marks the northernmost breeding-range boundary of this beautiful Central American bird. When I made it there in May 2022, a trogon gracefully coasted from a roost to land on a nearby bough. My dad passed away seven years after our first Arizona trip. He would’ve enjoyed visiting Madera. There are trogons there.
Category : Professional
Location : Seabeck, Washington
Camera : Sony Alpha 1 with a Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens; 1/2000 second at f/6.3; ISO 1600
Behind the Shot : In late spring, the plainfin midshipman fish come out of the Hood Canal’s deep waters to spawn amid the oyster beds that line the shoreline. The fish can breathe air and often end up trapped in the beds as the tide goes out. Bald Eagles congregate in the area every year to take advantage of the abundant food source. Eagles spar for the rights to a meal, and their aerial acrobatics are amazing to witness. I visit this area annually to watch the raptors and photograph their interactions. Coordinating the tides, good light, and good weather is always a challenge. Once in a while it all comes together!
Category : Amateur
Location : Santa Clara County, California
Camera : Sony Alpha 1 with a Sony FE 400mm f/2.8 GM OSS lens and Sony FE 2X Teleconverter; 1/2000 second at f/5.6; ISO 1000
Behind the Shot : I was sitting at the beach when a few lovely birds around me seemed keen to totally alter this photographer’s perception of common shorebirds. Some foraged, some preened and bathed, some, like this Willet, jumped and flapped their wings. Whether in mottled brown breeding plumage or gray winter colors, Willets’ subdued coloring makes them blend in well with their surroundings and among other shorebirds. I’d never known that their feathers have so many color variations. I certainly didn’t know that I would one day call them gorgeous birds. Seeing this bird was a great reminder that common birds around us are neither less fascinating nor less amazing than the rare birds visiting our areas.
Category : Professional
Location : Teton Village, Wyoming
Camera : Nikon Z9 with a Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 400mm f/2.8E FL ED VR and FTZ II Mount Adapter; 1/1250 second at f/3.2; ISO 200
Behind the Shot : On a drive outside Grand Teton National Park looking for grizzly bears, I came across this Sandhill Crane pair feeding in the shadow of Teton Village’s towering ski resort. The birds launched into an explosion of activity as they tossed themselves into the air and gently landed on lithe, elegant legs. The male almost appeared to float at times. He flung a hunk of dirt into the air again and again as he danced. I was stunned by the beauty of the perfectly aligned pair and fired off a burst of shots in the low light, capturing this intimate split-second image of the two lovers entwined symmetrically in their mating dance.
Category : Amateur
Location : Santa Clara County, California
Camera : Sony Alpha 1 with a Sony FE 400mm f/2.8 GM OSS lens and Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter; 1/800 second at f/5.6; ISO 5000
Behind the Shot : I was certainly lucky to see grebe chicks this small. At this age, they ride on their parents’ backs and hide in their feathers, almost invisible most of the time. On this particular day, the mom decided to offload her chicks a few times and give herself a nice shake and stretch while waiting for her mate to return. I was hoping to spend a few weeks with this family until the chicks fledged, watching, photographing, and learning from them, but my time was cut short. The chicks disappeared after a week. I went back one last time looking for signs of their existence but only saw the adult pair.
Category : Youth
Location : Huntley Meadows Park, Alexandria, Virginia
Camera : Nikon Z9 with a Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 500mm F/4E FL ED VR lens and Nikon FTZ ii adapter; 1/2500 second at f/4; ISO 1600
Behind the Shot : At a local marsh, I set out to photograph some of the beautiful spring birds coming through my area. Soon, a Green Heron descended onto a nearby submerged log to hunt for minnows and shrimp. The heron patiently hunted with a very low stalking pose that showed its intensity, catching shrimp and fish in the process. I took the picture from a low angle to catch the reflection and to isolate the subject.
Category : Youth
Location : Point Reyes National Seashore, California
Camera : Nikon D850 with a Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR lens; 1/500 second at f/5.6; ISO 1250
Behind the Shot : I had seen Townsend’s Warblers for the first time just a couple of days before I took this photograph. Unfortunately, I could not get any shots at the time because the birds were so high up in the trees. These birds were foraging low in a pine tree and did not show any fear in my presence, so I took the D850 my teacher loaned me and spent the next 20 minutes snapping away. This image caught my eye because of how the bird is partly concealed and droplets hang from the needles.
Category : Professional
Location : Borgrarfjodur Eystri, Iceland
Camera : Nikon D500 with a Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/4E FL ED VR lens; 1/4000 second at f/4; ISO 2000
Behind the Shot : The moment this photo was taken happened so fast. As I was photographing an Atlantic Puffin nesting colony, we noticed this bird that had just flown in and landed with a gull feather in its mouth. I snapped just a few photos before it went into the burrow. Once I got the shots, I stopped to think about the moment I observed, knowing this was a wildlife encounter that I will never forget.
Category : Amateur
Location : Cohoes, NY
Camera : Sony Alpha 1 with a Sony FE 600mm F/4 GM OSS lens; 1/3200 second at f/4; ISO 1600
Behind the Shot : This young Great Blue Heron was catching small fish at the top of a dam when I captured this image. It tossed the fish several times in the air so it could swallow the fish headfirst, a common behavior for herons. A few other photographers at the scene were also trying to catch the moment when the fish was suspended in mid-air. Having taken several hundred photos, I was confident that I had captured it. Looking at the photos at home, I did capture the moment several times, but it was only in this photo that the fish was perfectly aligned and suspended in water between the heron’s open beak.
Category : Amateur
Location : Ann and Jim Goodnight Museum Park, North Carolina Museum of Art, Raleigh, North Carolina
Camera : Canon EOS R5 with a Canon RF100-500mm F/4.5-7.1 L IS USM at 500mm lens; 1/500 second at f/7.1; ISO 1250
Behind the Shot : While casually birding at one of my favorite spots, I noticed a female Orchard Oriole carrying nesting material. I was lucky to have a clear view of her, and I don't often get great looks at this species, so I excitedly began taking pictures as she perched on an evergreen. Suddenly, while I was still looking through my viewfinder, a male appeared, and the couple began to copulate. I took a continuous burst of photos during the event, which only lasted three seconds. I would've missed it had I not already been photographing the female!
Category : Amateur
Location : Skagit County, Washington
Camera : Nikon D850 with a Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR lens; 1/640 second at f/5; ISO 320
Behind the Shot : My alarm was set for 4 a.m. in hopes that I would find a Savannah Sparrow in the tulips at first light. A few birds were out gathering food far out in the field. I found a position to sit on the muddy ground to be eye level with the top of the flowers. Instead of using a tripod, I decided to hand-hold my camera to change positions as needed. An hour
later, this beautiful sparrow landed on this dew-covered flower for about 4 seconds before it flew down to the ground. Listening to the various Savannah Sparrows singing all around me made for a magical morning.
Category : Professional
Location : New York, New York
Camera : Canon EOS R5 with a Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1 L IS USM lens; 1/250 second at f/7.1; ISO 1600
Behind the Shot : I have been monitoring and photographing American Woodcocks in New York City for years. The species usually shows up during spring and fall migration, but this bird appeared in winter, when New York is decked in Christmas lights. I was able to position myself so that the lights created a nice bokeh effect in the background. American Woodcock populations have declined in recent years due to a variety of threats. Conserving and restoring their habitats, controlling the use of pesticides and predator populations, and reducing light intensity to help birds avoid collisions with buildings are steps that people can take to mitigate these threats and protect the species.
Category : Amateur
Location : Gwynns Falls, Baltimore, Maryland
Camera : Canon EOS 1DX Mark II with a Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM lens and Canon Extender EF 1.4x III; 1/1600 second at f/5.6; ISO 320
Behind the Shot : In spring, Wood Ducks emerge from their wintering locations and pair up with their mates at a local pond. Drakes compete for female companions, submerging and dipping in and out of the water, which makes for great opportunities to capture their vibrant colors enhanced by the glossy water. On this particular shot, I timed clicking the shutter just as the duck broke the surface of the water and captured the dramatic splash and water cascading off of the duck’s back. This photo did not require much editing, but I did have to straighten and crop the image, as this scene was photobombed by a curious female Wood Duck that the male was presumably attempting to impress.
Category : Amateur
Location : Point Pelee National Park, Leamington, Ontario, Canada
Camera : Sony Alpha A7R IV with a Sony FE 200–600 mm F/5.6–6.3 G OSS lens; 1/1000 second at f/7.1; ISO 4000
Behind the Shot : Every spring I eagerly await the arrival of songbirds on their journey north. On the day I took this photograph, I was birding with my wife. We noticed a small warbler voraciously gleaning insects from the leaves of a tree, a bird we determined to be a female Blackpoll Warbler. Excited, I began taking pictures. Photographing a jumping warbler is no easy task—she always seemed to have her back turned or perch behind a branch. When I photograph species in motion, I often try for some wing blur and a sharp head-eye combination. After countless blurry warbler images and far too many images of branches, I captured a clean image of this beautiful bird.
Category : Professional
Location : Myakka River State Park, Sarasota, Florida
Camera : Canon EOS-1D X Mark II with a Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM lens; 1/160 second at f/4; ISO 4000
Behind the Shot : I took this photograph at sunset when the Red-shouldered Hawk was hunting. I am always looking for color to include in the background of my bird images, and one of my favorite ways to do that in the Florida woods is to wait for the sunset light to turn dead, brown palm fronds golden orange or even pink. We were still in the rainy season when I took the photograph, and the mosquitos were plentiful. I tend to become so focused on getting my image that I don’t notice bugs, but my husband saw them swarming me and sprayed me with bug spray while I continued to shoot. I didn’t want to miss the beautiful light!
Category : Amateur
Location : Connecticut Audubon’s Richard G. Croft Memorial Preserve, Goshen, Connecticut
Camera : Canon 5D Mark III with a Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens and Canon Extender EF 1.4x; 1/2000 second at f/8; ISO 1250
Behind the Shot : I set out on a challenging hike to photograph wildlife and hopefully see something out of the ordinary. The highlight of the hike is a 17-acre beaver pond where Great Blue Herons nest in the spring. After photographing herons flying in and out of their nests, I heard the water splashing. A bull moose had wandered into the pond. I couldn’t believe my eyes since moose are rare in Connecticut. Half an hour later, I heard the Great Blue Herons’ prehistoric calls. When I looked up to see what the commotion was, I saw a Bald Eagle dive bomb a heron nest, grab two chicks, and fly away. I couldn’t believe my eyes—again!
Category : Youth
Location : Belmont, Massachusetts
Camera : Nikon D3500 with a Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary lens; 1/800 second at f/6.3; ISO 400
Behind the Shot : On a windy day, I set out to find this pair of Eastern Screech-Owls with my grandmother and her friend, one of the most knowledgeable birders I know. After a short drive, we noticed the owls sitting in a long branch above the road. Being quiet as to not wake the owls, I grabbed my tripod and the longest lens I own. I set my tripod as high as it would go, set the timer function on my camera, and snapped this picture. This was an especially important and joyful moment for me as not only did I get to see the birds, but I shared the experience with others who love nature as well.
Category : Amateur
Location : Maasai Mara National Reserve, Narok, Kenya
Camera : Canon EOS-1D X Mark III with a Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM; 1/1000 second at f/4; ISO 1250
Behind the Shot : In the golden light of evening, we were on a game drive in Maasai Mara National Reserve when we happened upon a trio of ground-hornbills foraging in the tall grass. These incredibly charismatic birds live long lives, and young remain dependent on their parents for many years. As one adult stalked past our vehicle, I snapped a point-blank portrait. Viewed up-close, the brilliant red of their bare skin starkly contrasts with the flowing texture of their dark eyelashes and luxurious feathers.
Category : Amateur
Location : Utqiagvik, Alaska
Camera : Canon EOS R5 with a Canon RF 600mm f/4 L IS USM lens; 1/1600 second at f/4.0; ISO 100
Behind the Shot : As a kid living in Indiana, eiders always had a mythical quality about them. After many years of wishing to see them, I finally booked a trip to Alaska. We got into Utqiagvik a day late due to fog. Once on the ground, we learned that many of the ponds were still frozen and hosted few eiders. On our last morning, we spotted a pair of King Eider swimming in a canal. I edged myself down into the water and set up my tripod. At first, the pair remained distant as they bathed and preened, eventually working their way closer and allowing me some shots. Better late than never for me to see these beautiful ducks.
Category : Professional
Location : Cape Coral, Florida
Camera : Canon EOS-1D X Mark II with a Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM lens; 1/640 second at f/4; ISO 4000
Behind the Shot : Burrowing Owls reside and nest all over the Florida town of Cape Coral in empty lots in residential neighborhoods. Each year I look forward to photographing the juvenile owls that exhibit so much personality. I like to shoot half an hour before sunset or after sunrise, when the light is the most beautiful in this part of the world. I mount my camera on a ground pod so I can be eye level with the birds and shoot through grasses, which adds depth to my compositions. Lying down quietly on the ground makes me less intimidating and intrusive, allowing me to capture natural behaviors, like when the young ones tilt their heads when curious.
Category : Amateur
Location : Hollis Center, Maine
Camera : Canon 7d Mark II with a Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM lens; 1/1600 second at f/5.6; ISO 800
Behind the Shot : Traveling to a birding hotspot is always exciting. I try to regularly remind myself, though, that there are incredible species in our backyards. On the morning of a major snowstorm, road conditions were too treacherous for morning birding, so I sat outside near a backyard feeder at my grandparents’ home. Most of the birds I saw were Blue Jays. Before taking flight, they would drop to the ground for a second, scan their surroundings, and jump up. This image was my favorite from my morning of observations, as it captures the beauty of a Blue Jay’s plumage, as well as the powerful movement of the bird as it takes flight, kicking up the fresh powdery snow.
Category : Amateur
Location : Soldotna, Alaska
Camera : Sony Alpha 1 with a Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G/OSS at 600mm lens; 1/2000 second at f/8; ISO 1600
Behind the Shot : In winter, Bald Eagles gather by the hundreds near my hometown, primarily to scavenge. Since their typical fishing and hunting opportunities are limited by the snow and ice, they congregate and compete for prime roosting spots in residential and commercial areas where they are easy to view and photograph. On one cold, overcast, February morning, I took this photograph of two Bald Eagles perched on a frosted light post while a third eagle chases a smaller eagle away. Even though people might not think of our nation’s symbol scavenging, the behavior illustrates an important adaptation key to their survival. Even under these circumstances, they demonstrate a grace and beauty that continually fascinates me.
Category : Professional
Location : Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique
Camera : Sony Alpha 6400 with a Canon EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM lens; 1/250 second at f/14; ISO 500
Behind the Shot : A large group of African sharptooth catfish, each almost a meter long, was trapped in a rapidly shrinking puddle. Marabou Storks mercilessly pecked at them with their massive bills, further weakening the already exhausted fish. Marabous are huge birds with wingspans nearing 10 feet, but their impressive bills are surprisingly weak, more chopsticks than pliers. Even fully grown adults cannot overpower and swallow a catfish, but if a fish can be dragged away from the water and killed, the bird will be rewarded with a massive, nourishing meal. So, the birds kept trying, repeatedly picking the catfish up by the tail and almost invariably letting them squirm away.
Category : Amateur
Location : Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge, San Jose, California
Camera : Nikon Z9 with a Sigma 500mm f/4 Sports DG OS HSM lens and Nikon FTZ II Mount Adapter; 1/2500 second at f/5; ISO 360
Behind the Shot : A family of Black-necked Stilts with four chicks hung out close to a popular boardwalk at a nearby refuge. As I photographed their journey, I came to understand the calls the adults made for different purposes. Certain calls warned chicks of approaching humans. Others let them know of approaching gulls, their primary predators. Still more told the chicks to come under the adult’s wings and rest. One morning, when an adult called for the chicks to come close, I panned my camera toward the parent. The timing was perfect. All four chicks got under the wings one by one. Photographing wildlife is not all about visuals; it’s also about understanding the auditory cues of our subjects.
Category : Amateur
Location : Stone Harbor, New Jersey
Camera : EOS R5 with a Canon EF 500 f/4L IS II USM, a Canon Extender EF 1.4x III lens, and a Canon Mount Adapter EF-EOS R with a Gitzo tripod and Flex Shooter Pro head; 1/4000 second at f/9; ISO 1000
Behind the Shot :During an October vacation, I joined a birding group led by naturalists from the Cape May Bird Observatory who took us to Stone Harbor Point beach. We saw Sanderlings and Western Sandpipers, but not many of either. On my final day, I went back two hours before sunset and saw groups of foraging Sanderlings farther up the beach. I set up my camera and tripod just a few inches off the wet sand. Within minutes, a few groups came toward me. I could barely pan the camera fast enough to keep up with them. This bird decided to stand still and preen. You can see in its expression the extra effort it took to reach those longest feathers.
Category : Professional
Location : Manning Provincial Park, British Columbia, Canada
Camera : Nikon D500 with a Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/4E FL ED VR lens; 1/1600 second at f/9; ISO 500
Behind the Shot : I try to visit this location as often as I can to watch and photograph the many Common Ravens in the area and the amazing behaviors they exhibit. This was a particularly slow day, but as in all wildlife photography, I just had to be prepared. As this raven called for its mate, I got super low to try to capture some behavioral shots and noticed that its mouth is completely black, matching the color of its feathers. As I took the photos, I the car lights from the highway created magical bokeh bubbles in the background. I readjusted to line the shot up to include those, giving some unique flair to the image.
Category : Amateur
Location : Grasonville, Maryland
Camera : Canon EOS R3 with a Canon EF 600mm f/4 IS III USM and Canon Extender EF 1.4x III lens; 1/5000 second at f/5.6; ISO 400
Behind the Shot : Just before Labor Day Weekend, I visited a popular migration spot for herons, egrets, and shorebirds along the Chesapeake Bay on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. I laid down flat and as still as possible in wet mud to ensure a low profile and minimum disturbance. A small flock of shorebirds landed to my periphery and began making their way in my direction. The backlight was getting more direct and stronger as a Least Sandpiper appeared in front of me and began probing the mud. I adjusted the exposure for strong highlights to capture the rim lighting around the bird, as well as the amazing bokeh that doubled as leading lines in the composition.
Category : Amateur
Location : Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve, Huntington Beach, California
Camera : Canon EOS-1D X Mark II with a Canon EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM Extender 1.4x lens; 1/5000 second at f/7.1; ISO 640>
Behind the Shot : It was a sunny afternoon and I had been patiently waiting for the perfect opportunity to capture Elegant Terns hunting for fish. I positioned myself on the edge of the water and set up my camera to photograph the scene. The challenge I faced during this process was snapping the perfect shot with the right timing, as these birds are incredibly fast and move unpredictably. After many attempts, I finally captured the moment when one tern caught a fish and others flocked around it—and I kept all the birds sharp and visible in the shot. Witnessing this powerful scene that showcased the beauty and complexity of nature was a fantastic experience.
Category : Professional
Location : Platte River, Alda, Nebraska
Camera : Canon 5D Mark IV with a Canon 600mm f/4 IS USM II lens and Canon Extender EF 2x; 1/2000 second at f/11; ISO 3200>
Behind the Shot : It was sunset, and I was patiently waiting for the Sandhill Cranes that roost on the Platte River to return to the waterway. I was getting worried that they wouldn’t come back until dusk, but just as a sun shower began, the massive flock arrived, providing an incredible backlit scenario to unfold. It was one of the most powerful spectacles that I have ever witnessed.
Category : Amateur
Location : Tortuguero National Park, Costa Rica
Camera : Nikon D7500 with a Tamron 100-400mm f/4.5-6.3 Di VC USD lens and Breakthrough Photography X4 CPL polarizing filter; 1/500 second at f/8; ISO 2200>
Behind the Shot : My wife, sister-in-law, and I took a natural history tour of Costa Rica that included boat cruises on the canals and waterways of Tortuguero National Park. Among the wildlife we saw were several Anhingas. Unlike most waterbirds, Anhingas do not have waterproof feathers, but they do have dense bones and webbed feet, which help them dive and swim underwater to hunt. Their feathers can become waterlogged, so they must dry their wings out to fly. This bird perched on a log facing me with its wings outstretched as the boat slowly approached. As I framed the shot, it preened its chest feathers. I took several wider shots then zoomed in for a portrait framing.
Category : Amateur
Location : Haleakalā National Park, Maui, Hawaii
Camera : Canon EOS R6 Mark II with a Canon RF 1200mm f/8 L IS USM; 1/1000 second at f/8; ISO 5000>
Behind the Shot : Endemic and delightfully colorful, ‘Iʻiwi are my favorite bird. The Hawaiian honeycreepers live in high-elevation forests, predominantly on Maui, Kaua’i, and Hawai'i. My goal was to capture an image that displayed their stunning plumage and unique adaptations: a long bill and tongue to feed on the nectar of the ʻōhiʻa lehua. After hiking to an overlook, I noticed several ʻIʻiwis, but rain made for near-impossible shooting conditions. I was about to give up when the rain stopped and a stunning male appeared. He belted out a few notes, giving me the opportunity to photograph. Only at home did I realize my shutter speed had allowed me to capture him, his curved beak, and that long tongue crisply. Success!
Category : Professional
Location : Saunders Neck, Falkland Islands
Camera : Nikon D850 with a Nikon NIKKOR Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S Lens; 1/1250 second at f/9; ISO 125>
Behind the Shot : One of the most beautiful and amazing subjects to see and photograph on Saunders Neck is the Black-browed Albatross. We were there in January, when the chicks in the colony had hatched. On the last evening, after spending a few days alternating between photographing penguins and albatross, I made one final trek up the hillside to the colony in hopes of getting a more dramatic shot. Was I ever thankful I went! The lower angle of the sun created a spotlight effect that highlighted the subject while causing the background to fade into darkness. It was perfect for adding emotion and mood. These turned out to be some of my favorite images of the Falklands.
Category : Amateur
Location : Crockett Lake, Whidbey Island, Coupeville, Washington
Camera : Nikon Z9 with a Nikon NIKKOR Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S; 1/3200 second at f/7.1; ISO 2800>
Behind the Shot : I found a pair of Short-eared Owls near a forest instead of the yellowish gray fields I usually find them in. I’ve been on a quest to photograph this species with their feathers backlit, and this setting provided a great opportunity to capture feathers illuminated against a clean, contrasting background. As I tracked the "shortie," it locked onto a vole-bearing Northern Harrier and took a long, determined dive, providing an interesting wing pose. Though these owls are one of the most widely distributed in the world, their populations have declined about 65 percent since 1970 in their North American range. My hope is that admiration for the owls will help lead to more support to protect them.
Category : Amateur
Location : Point Fermin, San Pedro, California
Camera : Canon EOS R6 with a Canon RF100-500mm f/4.5-7.1 L IS USM lens; 1/2000 second at f/7.1; ISO 5000>
Behind the Shot : I took this photo when three Peregrine Falcon fledglings I watched were still working on their flight skills. The young falcon on the left stretched and flapped its wings, getting the courage up to take flight. The morning was overcast, which I prefer for photography, as I feel it creates a softer look to my photos. I upped my shutter speed a little higher to compensate for the wing movement and in expectation for the suspected takeoff. (Which happened two frames later!) When I snapped the photo, the falcon on the right looked straight at me. I often wonder how these fledglings are faring. Getting the opportunity to photograph them was a magical experience.
Category : Youth
Location : Resurrection Bay, Seward, Alaska
Camera : Nikon D780 with a Nikon AF-S Nikkor 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR; 1/1000 second at f/5.6; ISO 400>
Behind the Shot : My mom and I traveled to Alaska because she was running the Anchorage Marathon. While there, we took a boat tour of Resurrection Bay and some of the nearby preserves to look for wildlife. While standing outside on the lower deck, I saw a large brown bird. Initially, I figured it was some sort of hawk or Osprey because I had never seen such a large bird in those brown colors before. However, following it with my camera, I noticed its beautiful, hooked beak and realized it was an eagle. My mom informed me that it was a Bald Eagle. The bird was magnificent, soaring across the foggy skies, blending in with its muddled brownish surroundings.
Category : Professional
Location : Moss Landing Wildlife Area, Moss Landing, California
Camera : Sony Alpha 1 with a Sony FE 400mm f/2.8 GM OSS and a Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter; 1/4000 second at f/4.0; ISO 400>
Behind the Shot : I visited the same location for several days in a row to photograph a large flock of Elegant Terns, a seasonal visitor to the area. One day I observed many of them on a sandbar in a pond, occasionally taking off as a group, flying around, and returning until something triggered them to take off again. After seeing this happen a few times, I set up my tripod at an angle where I would have a nice reflection of the birds as they took off, effectively doubling the chaos of the flight. Since they do not all take off at the same time, the stationary birds at water's edge added a nice contrast to the takeoff.
Category : Professional
Location : Ladd S. Gordon Waterfowl Complex: Bernardo Waterfowl Management Area,
Bosque, New Mexico
Camera : Sony Alpha 7RV with a Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens; 1/40 second at f/6.3; ISO 64>
Behind the Shot : The morning rising sun is the backdrop for this group of Sandhill Cranes flying out of their overnight pond to their daytime grazing areas. Low light conditions necessitated a slow shutter speed. Panning the camera with the movement of the birds keeps their heads reasonably sharp while blurring the wing beats. Motion pan blurs are always fun and a challenge to create. They offer another point of view when lighting conditions do not allow for static flight images.
Category : Amateur
Location : Madison, Alabama
Camera : Nikon Z9 with a Nikon 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 Z lens and Nikon AF-S Teleconverter TC-14E; 1/200 second at f/8; ISO 360>
Behind the Shot : Two small spillways between a lake and marsh near my house are an excellent area for birdwatching and wildlife photography. The churning waters teem with larger fish that attract Great Blue Herons. The birds plunge their heads and spear their catch on their long bills. I quietly crouch in the mud and tall grass, waiting for the birds to strike. With the larger fish, the herons pose for a good 10 seconds before eating their catch, giving me time to drop the shutter speed and capture a lower ISO image. I’ve shot this sequence under a variety of lighting conditions, but I prefer this backlit scene because it highlights beak and fins.
Category : Professional
Location : Central Okanagan, British Columbia, Canada
Camera : Canon EOS R5 with a Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens and Canon Mount Adapter EF-EOS R>
Behind the Shot : With a highly unique aquatic lifestyle, the American Dipper has long been one of my favorite birds to watch and photograph. This winter, I spent some time seeking out dippers as they foraged in icy rivers and streams in my home province of British Columbia. After a couple days hiking around their habitat, I came across a particularly cooperative and active dipper foraging around the ice. Laying down in the snow, I spent five hours observing and photographing the scene. I captured this image as the bird emerged from a dive with a caddisfly larva. The protective cases of caddisfly larvae removed by the dipper can be seen on the snow, evidence of a productive feeding spot.
Category : Amateur
Location : Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Camera : Nikon Z6ii with a Nikon NIKKOR Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S lens; 1/400 second at f/11; ISO 6400
Behind the Shot : Even in death, nature can be truly beautiful. Having found this Canada Goose, which had unfortunately met its end, likely not long before I found it, I was struck by the beauty and texture of the feathers covered in tiny water droplets. The bird’s plumage, which is generally considered drab and unremarkable, upon closer inspection, is magnificent. At the time, I was specifically looking to create more abstract images, and I had recently acquired a lens that would allow me to capture macro photos, so I just had to try and capture the feathers’ texture and colors, and the condensation on them.
Category : Amateur
Location : Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah
Camera : Nikon D7500 with a Nikon AF-P NIKKOR 70-300mm lens; 1/2000 second at f/5.6; ISO 1600
Behind the Shot : While visiting Zion National Park for a weekend trip, my sister and I built in an extra day to also visit Bryce Canyon National Park. But driving the main road there, a snowstorm limited visibility and blocked the sprawling vistas we’d traveled to see. We carefully made our way to the Bryce Point overlook parking lot. There, a flock of Common Ravens swooped down around us. They landed on a nearby handrail right as the clouds parted. I will never forget the birds that brought the sun to us at Bryce.
Category : Amateur
Location : Darlington, Maryland
Camera : Nikon Z9 with a NIKKOR Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S and Nikon AF-S Teleconverter TC800-1.25E ED; 1/3200 second at f/7.1; ISO 320
Behind the Shot : This shot was taken at the famous Conowingo Dam where many people go to observe and photograph Bald Eagles. Other photographers and I spend hundreds of hours each year trying to get great shots. On this day, the eagle in the photograph dove very close to us and caught a fish. Immediately it came under attack by another adult Bald Eagle. To defend itself, it flipped upside down and screamed. The eagles were close to the water’s surface, and the eagle with the fish fell in, dropping its prize. The attacker calmly flew down and picked up the fish while the other eagle watched from the water. Both birds eventually flew away unharmed.
Category : Professional
Location : Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique
Camera : Canon EOS 7D with a Canon EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM lens; 1/1250 second at f/11; ISO 1250
Behind the Shot : When I noticed an exhausted waterbuck doe in the mud, my first instinct was to help the hapless animal. But the stress it would have experienced while I tried (and almost certainly failed) to pull her heavy body out of the muck would have only exacerbated her exhaustion. It’s also not a good idea to interfere with the natural order of things. Early the next morning, the waterbuck was dead. I set up a couple of cameras equipped with motion sensors next to the carcass to document the scavengers that took advantage of the free food. The first arrival was a young Bateleur who started feeding on the soft parts of the dead antelope’s head.
Category : Amateurl
Location : San Diego River, San Diego, California
Camera : Canon EOS R5 with a Canon RF 600mm f/4 L IS USM lens; 1/5000 second at f/4; ISO 500
Behind the Shot : The San Diego River is one of my favorite places to bird and take photographs, in part because it hosts large numbers of migrating birds during the winter. One January morning, I went there intending to photograph a pair of nesting Osprey. Instead, a few Brown Pelicans flew into and out of the river trying to catch fish. I used my camera to track them, hoping to capture them in action, but the light was too bright to get what I wanted. I waited until I saw one of the pelicans fly under a bridge. The bridge wall darkened the background, but the pelican was still in the bright sunlight. I clicked my shutter button.
Category : Professional
Location : Sea Lion Island, Falkland Islands
Camera : Nikon D850 with a Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 400mm f/2.8E FL ED VR; 1/4000 second at f/2.8; ISO 320
Behind the Shot : Sea Lion Island is home to not only sea lions, but also several penguin colonies and elephant seals. While there, we stopped at a small pond with a few bathing birds. I love the action of ducks and geese bathing, so even though the subject of this image was a very common Ruddy-headed Goose, I got on my stomach in the mud to get a low-angle view. The light and its movement highlighted the beauty and intricacy of its feathers. It was well worth leaving the penguins alone for a bit, and I could never have guessed that one of my favorite images from the island would be of a common species of local goose.
Category : Amateur
Location : Melbourne Beach, Florida
Camera : Canon 5D Mark IV with a Canon EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM at 59mm lens; 0.6 second at f/10; ISO 100
Behind the Shot : I was hoping for a dramatic sunrise, but it was a heavily overcast early morning when I took this shot. As waves rolled onto the beach, a large Great Blue Heron stared off across the water. A few feet in front of the heron stood a diminutive Sanderling staring in the opposite direction. They both seemed lost in their own thoughts, barely aware of each other. Because of the low light, I shot the image using as low an ISO and as slow a shutter speed as I dared, knowing the waves would blur a bit but also wanting to preserve as much detail of the birds as possible.
Category : Amateur
Location : Loyola Beach, Chicago, Illinois
Camera : Leica M 240 with a Voigtlander Nokton 50mm f/1.2 Aspherical lens and a Yellow 1 Filter; 1/4000 second at f/13; ISO 200
Behind the Shot : I took this shot using a manual focus lens and a rangefinder camera. I found this setup to be quite the challenge, especially considering the fast and sporadic flight of the local birds along with the harsh lighting of the afternoon. After locating my light source for the shot, I waited and took nearly 10 photos until I finally got what I wanted. Shots like this illustrate my style, which embodies chiaroscuro techniques such as underexposing to obtain the desired visual effect and exposing for highlights.
Category : Amateur
Location : Milton, Ontario, Canada
Camera : Nikon D500 with a Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 400mm f/2.8E FL ED VR; 1/500 second at f/2.8; ISO 560
Behind the Shot : I have a several small, remote ponds that I frequent to photograph waterfowl. Most days I use a float hide for waterfowl photography, but on this morning I decided to lay on the shore under a blanket. I don’t believe this pair of swans was aware of my presence, but they did seem quite interested in the moving lump along the shore. They came in so close to investigate that I couldn’t fit both birds in the frame, but I did get some very intimate portraits. Trumpeter Swans feed on the bottom of the ponds, so I was hoping to get some interesting water droplet patterns as their heads emerged. I was thrilled with this result.
Category : Amateur
Location : Reef Point Road, St. Paul Island, Alaska
Camera : Canon EOS 50D with a Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM I lens and Canon Extender EF 1.4x II; 1/200 second at f/7.1; ISO 250
Behind the Shot : A light drizzle fell as I hiked over slippery, loose rocks to a place that provided unobstructed views of a small cliff ledge overlooking the Bering Sea. I scouted the area the previous evening and, although this ledge was unoccupied at that time, it seemed like a spot that Crested and Least Auklets might favor. As I neared the area where I intended to set up, I spotted a Crested Auklet preening at the cliff ledge. A moment later the bird flew off. I sat down on the rocks, removed my gear from my backpack, and set up. Fifteen minutes later a Crested Auklet landed on this ledge. A couple minutes later its mate joined him.
Category : Amateur
Location : Ladd S. Gordon Waterfowl Complex, Bernardo, New Mexico
Camera : Nikon Z7ii with an AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8E ED VR; 1/8000 second at f/14; ISO 100
Behind the Shot : On an early February morning, I drove 45 miles south of my home to photograph wintering birds in the Middle Rio Grande Basin wetlands. I arrived at sunrise to find the marshes full of roosting Sandhill Cranes surrounded by a thick fog rising from the water. I positioned my camera facing the recently risen sun to silhouette the birds and accentuate the fog in the warm yellow and orange sunlight. The sun’s position created elongated shadows of the birds that stretched to the bottom of the frame. I had to wade into the muddy marsh to get the composition I wanted—close enough to show the size of the cranes and far enough to show their number.
Category : Amateur
Location : Silverwood Park, St. Anthony, Minnesota
Camera : Sony Alpha 1 with a Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens; 1/400 second at f/9; ISO 10000
Behind the Shot : While out for a walk one evening, a flash of blue caught my eye. An adult Tree Swallow had swooped past on its way to a nesting box, where three young and hungry swallows were eagerly awaiting. I was so excited to see this little family that I rushed home to grab my camera. Setting my tripod, I watched for over an hour as the adult flew back and forth bringing dinner to the little babies, who would open their bills just before the parent returned. I loved the blur of the wings because it depicts how quickly the bird arrived and departed with each delivery. It was a joy to capture this simple but beautiful scene.
Category : Amateur
Location : Hope Bay, Antarctica
Camera : Nikon D810 with a Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR lens and UV filter; 1/2000 second at f/7.1; ISO 1000
Behind the Shot : When we arrived in the Weddell Sea, the weather kept us from landing. We had to settle for cruising around on an inflatable Zodiac, but that meant that the animals I wanted to photograph were not always on my side of the boat. Inevitably, I saw Adelie Penguins jumping from the water on the opposite side and I wasn’t getting any shots. Suddenly, the penguins started launching themselves from the water right in front of me. The brilliant part of this turned out to be the background; I got lucky enough to get the icebergs!