Bird POTY

Photography competition. Top prize of £5,000; celebrating the artistry of bird photography and promoting conservation. 2022 contest open now!

[Bird POTY @BirdPOTY]

Rufous on Watch
Best Portrait - COMMENDED
Michael Despines, United States

'From his perch, this male Rufous Hummingbird surveyed the entire field – if any other bird or creature dared to enter, he would take flight and warn them off...'

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Warm and Sweet
Bird Behaviour - COMMENDED
Guolin Liu, China

'This image of a Demoiselle Crane family was taken in Inner Mongolia, in the high-altitude grasslands that the species favours for nesting.'

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The Turquoise Sweater
Best Portrait - COMMENDED
Akhil Vinayak Balachandra Menon, India

'In the high-altitude region of Cinchona in Costa Rica, this Green Thorntail is showing off its exquisite winter attire...'

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Grumpy
Best Portrait - COMMENDED
Tim Hopwood, Canada

'I was fortunate enough to visit a rookery in Mexico that was full of egrets, storks and spoonbills. As a bonus, tucked away in a shady corner I found this lone and fantastical Boat billed Heron.'

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Japanese Print
Black and White - COMMENDED
Nathalie Houdin, France

'Sometimes life throws up wonderful surprises and beautiful sightings, such as this magnificent Grey-crowned Crane...'

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Let Me Eat First
Birds in Flight - COMMENDED
Saleel Tambe, United Kingdom

'Although European Goldfinches are fairly common in urban areas, it is still challenging to capture their activities...'

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Peregrine Falcon Food Exchange
Bird Behaviour - COMMENDED
David Clark, United States

'The action is extremely quick and spectacular. Over years of following this pair I have seen many beautifully executed and skilful food exchanges, but none more amazing than this one.'

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Wetland Dawn and Feeding Snipe
Birds in the Environment - COMMENDED
Michał Janiak, Poland

'This photograph was taken at the Jeziorsko Lake, near Siedlątków, an artificial body of water situated in central Poland.'

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White-fronted Chats in Wetland Habitat
Birds in the Environment - COMMENDED
Pamela Goble, Australia

'White-fronted Chats are small insectivorous birds endemic to southern Australia. By using a tight focus, the beautiful colours and textures of the vegetation have been blurred..'

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Spoon Shaking
Bird Behaviour - COMMENDED
Chen Ein-Dor, Israel

'This Eurasian Spoonbill is showing its special beak, leaving you in no doubt as to how the bird it got its name. I was able to get so close to the bird thanks to my floating hide,.'

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The Monk
Urban Birds -COMMENDED
Sergey Puponin, Russia

'In the heart of Dubrovnik, beside the Large Onofrio Fountain, a Franciscan monk embodies harmony with nature.'

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Waterbirds and Bubblegum Wetlands
Birds in the Environment - COMMENDED
Mark Cook, United Kingdom

'Various species of waterbirds forage in the rouge-tinted coastal wetlands at the southern tip of the Everglades.'

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A Walk in the Clouds
Birds in the Environment - COMMENDED
Jesse Trimble, United States

⁠Judging is now underway for BPOTY 2025!⁠

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Flying Under the Radar
Birds in Flight - COMMENDED
Ryan Burg, United States

'Alone on the water in my inflatable dinghy on a cool October morning, just after sunrise, I watched as this lone Double-crested Cormorant gracefully made its way towards me...'

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Rinse and Repeat
Birds in Flight - COMMENDED
Ethan Teo, Singapore

'Rising from an unsuccessful dive, this Little Tern twisted its body deftly, flinging off the excess water accumulated after its recent immersion, just as it passed in front of my position.'

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Ruffs
Bird Behaviour - COMMENDED
Markku Nikki, Finland

'I took this picture of lekking Ruffs from a kayak. I have installed a small wooden table on the kayak with a gimbal head fixed to it...'

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Interstellar
Birds in Flight - COMMENDED
Simon Carder, United Kingdom

'This Steller’s Sea-eagle image was taken from an early morning tourist boat exploring the edge of the sea ice near Rausu in Eastern Hokkaido, Japan.'

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Contented Ptarmigan
Birds in the Environment - COMMENDED
James Roddie, United Kingdom

'After a very long walk over the Cairngorm plateau, tramping through deep snow, I eventually found a line of fresh ptarmigan tracks...'

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Sunset Sprinkles
Birds in Flight - COMMENDED
Sparky Stensaas, United States

'As the sun set on this random roadside prairie pond, Black Terns began zipping back and forth, snatching insects from the water’s surface...'

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Goldeneye in Flight
Birds in Flight - COMMENDED
Mia Surakka, Finland

'I was ready to photograph the flight as the female goldeneye crossed between me and the rising sun, giving the photo this nice backlit effect, highlighting the wings just touching the water’s surface.'