Bird Photographer of the Year 2023: Winning photos revealed

A fight AND flight moment that took years to capture and then was over in the blink of an eye was the grand prize winner in this year’s Bird Photographer of the Year competition.

The dramatic shot of a peregrine falcon attacking a brown pelican took the top prize from more than 20,000 entries.

Gold, silver and bronze prizes were also awarded across a number of categories as enthusiasts around the world took their photography to new heights.

Comedy Bird bronze award-winner Ann Gillis, of the US, was watching a group of northern crested caracara eating chicken that had been put out for them when she took this shot. “This individual was more interested in displaying to all the others while they ate,” she said. Picture: Ann Gillis / Bird Photographer of the Year

Jack Zhi, of the US, won gold in the Bird Behaviour category and the title Bird Photographer of the Year 2023 for this image of a peregrine falcon and brown pelican in southern California. He had tried to get the shot of the falcon protecting its nearby nest for four years. “The falcon’s precision was amazing as it struck at the pelican’s head,” he said. Picture: Jack Zhi / Bird Photographer of the Year

The gold award-winner for a Comedy Bird Photo was Antonio Aguti, of Italy, who captured a purple heron struggling with its meal at Lake Chiusi. He said the bird caught a large carp and “voraciously swallowed it after several attempts to turn the fish onto its side”. Picture: Antonio Aguti / Bird Photographer of the Year

Gold winner in the best portrait category, Nicolas Reusens, of Spain, said he spotted a rare glistening-green tanager perfectly framed on a leaf in a “magical moment” in the Mashpi Amagusa Reserve, Ecuador. Picture: Nicolas Reusens / Bird Photographer of the Year

Arto Leppänen captured a fleeting moment when a great grey owl landed on an angel statue as it hunted voles in a cemetery in Helsinki, Finland. The picture won gold in the Urban Birds category. Picture: Arto Leppänen / Bird Photographer of the Year

In Poland, a field of sunflowers became a winter haven for birds after flooding prevented the plants being harvested. Mateusz Piesiak took this shot of a brambling perched in front of his camera and won gold in the Birds in the Environment category. Picture: Mateusz Piesiak / Bird Photographer of the Year

Qiuqing Mu, of China, was watching a great grey owl hunting in a wheat field when a juvenile flew down to be fed. The shot secured bronze in the Bird Behaviour category. Picture: Qiuqing Mu / Bird Photographer of the Year

The silver award-winner for Birds in the Environment was Clément Cornec, of France, who delivered an atmospheric shot of emperor penguins in Antarctica. Picture: Clément Cornec / Bird Photographer of the Year

Australia’s Jason Moore was captivated by the “beautiful expressions and fascinating displays” of his musk duck subjects in Perth. The judges were equally engaged awarding him gold in the Black and White category. Picture: Jason Moore / Bird Photographer of the Year

Rafael Armada, of Spain, took gold in the Birds in Flight category with this image of a sword-billed hummingbird approaching a feeder in Bogotá, Colombia. Picture: Rafael Armada / Bird Photographer of the Year

A flock of lesser flamingoes in flight over a vast blue-green algae bloom at Lake Bogoria in Kenya won Paul Mckenzie, of Ireland, silver in the Birds in Flight category. Picture: Paul Mckenzie / Bird Photographer of the Year

Arko Saha, of India, took gold in the 11 and Under age category with this shot of a vibrant blue verditer flycatcher. Picture: Arko Saha / Bird Photographer of the Year

Anton Trexler, of Germany, collected gold in the 15-17 Years category and the title Young Bird Photographer of the Year 2023 with his image of a blackbird silhouetted against the moon. “Getting up before sunrise allows you to experience the magical awakening of animals. The blackbird is one of the first animals to awaken,” he said. Picture: Anton Trexler / Bird Photographer of the Year

Thomas Vijayan, of Canada, spent two days observing emperor penguins in Antarctica before snapping this silver award-winning shot. His Best Portrait entry involved eight hour treks to the colony, then laying flat on the ice to avoid scaring the birds. Picture: Thomas Vijayan / Bird Photographer of the Year

A Canada jay in Adirondack Park, New York, secured a bronze award for Jake Levin, of the US, in the Best Portrait category. Picture: Jake Levin / Bird Photographer of the Year

Richard Sanchez, of Cuba, admitted he had luck on his side capturing this striking photo of a common nighthawk which was circling his vehicle in Florida. It won bronze in the Birds in Flight category. Picture: Richard Sanchez / Bird Photographer of the Year

Xiaoke Wang, of China, captured great cormorants over Shenzhen, which is a wintering ground for over migratory birds. The picture took out silver in the Urban Birds category. Picture: Xiaoke Wang / Bird Photographer of the Year

Levi Fitze, of Switzerland, took this king penguin shot in the Falkland Islands and claimed silver in the Comedy Bird category. “I was struck by how their behaviour sometimes resembles that of humans. This juvenile constantly begged until the annoyed adult walked away,” he said. Picture: Levi Fitze / Bird Photographer of the Year

Julian Fernandez Quilez, of Spain, set up his Urban Birds picture by orientating a painted door at an abandoned farmhouse to let the sunrise in and using three flashes to illuminate the painting. “It took multiple sessions to achieve the desired effect,” he said. It was the bronze winner. Picture: Julian Fernandez Quilez / Bird Photographer of the Year

Harry Sedin, of Sweden, explained how he achieved his gold-winning image in the 12-14 Years category. “I headed down to the water with the goal of photographing terns in flight.” he said. “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.” Picture: Harry Sedin / Bird Photographer of the Year

The 2024 Bird Photographer of the Year competition is now open for entries at birdpoty.com.

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2023 Bird Photographer of the Year winners