The Bird Photographer of the Year contest stands as one of the most watched moments on the global birding calendar. Year after year, thousands of images arrive from every corner of the world, all competing across a range of prize categories. This contest isn’t just about one perfect shot; it’s a testament to precise timing, the play of light, and that bold instant when a bird interacts with its world in a way that tells a story.
The grand prize this year amounts to £5,000 and goes to a striking image by Jack Zhi. The photograph captures a peregrine falcon mid‑attack on a pelican, a dramatic clash above a Florida cliff that showcases the falcon’s blistering speed and pinpoint accuracy against the pelican’s resilient, soaring maneuvering. The scene feels cinematic yet exact, a moment in exaggerated action rendered in crisp, documentary detail.
But the wins extend beyond the top award. The edition bursts with visuals that edge toward the lyrical, each frame revealing a bird’s world in vivid color, texture, and emotion. From raptors to passerines, the collection honors birds in flight and perched beauty, inviting viewers to pause and study form, feather, and motion in ways that feel almost immersive.
Participants from Spain have earned multiple recognitions, capturing images on distant shores and across varied landscapes. Their work underscores the universal appeal of birds in motion and at rest and demonstrates how national styles blend with global subjects in compelling, memorable ways.
The complete album of winning photographs can be viewed in this collection, and below are a few standout pieces that capture the extraordinary range of this year’s competition:
The overall winner of the competition “Catch the bull by the horns” Jack Zhi-Bird photographer of the year 2023
Booby bird fishing under the sea Henley Spiers-Bird photographer of the year 2023
Great Great Owl Pair Qiuqing Mu-Bird photographer of the year 2023
Hummingbird photographed in Bogota Rafael Armada (SPAIN) – Bird photographer of the year 2023
Flamingos in Kenya Paul Mckenzie – Bird photographer of the year-2023
Common Shortcut, mid-flight in Florida Richard Sanchez
Cormorants migrate via Shenzhen, China Wang Xiaoke-2023 Bird photographer of the year
heron swallows fish Bird photographer of the year 2023 by Antonio Aguti
Penguins on the Falkland Islands Levi FitzeBird photographer of the year 2023
A Maltese hunter after shooting a turtle dove Ewan Heath Flynn-Bird photographer of the year 2023
A mopoke cared for by a vet Michael Eastwell-2023 Bird photographer of the year
green tanager Nicolas Reusens (SPAIN)-2023 bird photographer
Photo from the youth section of the competition Andrés Luis Dominguez Blanco (SPAIN)
………. The environment department note is not published here as part of ongoing coverage and archives remain available through official repositories, with photographers recognized for their artistry and their ability to reveal nature in motion.