Adorable image of chick shielding its siblings among winners of Bird Photographer of the Year 2026

These remarkable images show birds from environments all around the world.

(Copy) GOLD – Bird Behaviour – I’m Keeping Everyone Dry by Donald Chin

Magda Patynska

Published: September 22, 2026 at 12:05 am

The winners of the Bird Photographer of the Year 2026 competition have been revealed. The grand prize recipient is an image of a northern gannet bursting through the surface of the ocean, taken by photographer Henley Spiers from the United Kingdom.

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Photographers from around the world competed in eight categories in the adult competition and three categories in the youth competition, with the competition receiving more than 24,000 images.

“In a world where AI-generated imagery is becoming increasingly common, this year’s winners are a powerful reminder of the value of authenticity,” said Will Nicholls, the director of Bird Photographer of the Year.

“Every image in the competition represents a real moment in the wild, earned through patience, dedication and a genuine connection with nature. People will always value real stories told by real people, and this year’s extraordinary photographs celebrate the beauty, wonder and authenticity of our natural world.”

Overall winner, Adult

A northern gannet (Morus bassanus) seems to burst through the sun as it pierces down through the water. Shetland, Scotland, United Kingdom. Credit: Henley Spiers/Bird Photographer of the Year

Overall winner, Youth

Moonlit night and a great horned owl (Bubo virginianus). Los Gatos, California, United States. Credit: Parham Pourahmad/Bird Photographer of the Year

Best Portrait winner

A male greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) during its courtship display. Utah, United States. Credit: Thomas Deliberto/Bird Photographer of the Year

Bird Behaviour winner

Rain threads through the forest. Camouflaged against bark and shadow, a fledgling tawny frogmouth (Podargus strigoides) stretches its wings in what looks like covering its other siblings from the water droplets. Perth, Australia. Credit: Donald Chin/Bird Photographer of the Year

Birds in Flight winner

A short-eared owl (Asio flammeus) courses over the salt marshes of British Columbia's Fraser River Delta, Canada. Credit: Ivan Sjögren/Bird Photographer of the Year

Black and White winner

An ostrich (Struthio camelus) makes its way towards the dry lake bed of Amboseli, Kenya. Credit: Rahul Sachdev/Bird Photographer of the Year

Urban Birds winner

In Rome, Italy, tall buildings function for yellow-legged gulls (Larus michahellis) much like coastal cliffs, offering nesting, roosts and perches to survive within the city. Credit: Gianluca Diamiani/Bird Photographer of the Year

Conservation winner

A great blue heron (Ardea herodias) with a bobber and fishing line around its beak. Washington, Warren County, NJ, US. Credit: Kent Stuart/Bird Photographer of the Year

Creative Perspectives winner

On a blazing summer day, a common swift (Apus apus) slices through the air, captured in an in-camera multiple exposure reflected in the glossy roof of a blue car. Oslo, Norway. Credit: Åsmund Keilen/Bird Photographer of the Year

11 and under category winner

The emerald eye of a great cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo). London, United Kingdom. Credit: Alberto Román Gómez/Bird Photographer of the Year

12-14 years category winner

An acrobat of the skies, the red-necked phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus). Rost, Lofoten, Norway. Credit: Paula Czaeczine/Bird Photographer of the Year

See the full gallery of winners here.

Some more wildlife photography:

Top image credit: Donald Chin/Bird Photographer of the Year

Magda is the content writer for discoverwildlife.com, and spends her days researching weird (and often deadly) animals. Outside of work, she enjoys engaging with and writing about fan culture in all its forms.

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