An image of a peregrine falcon tackling a brown pelican that ventured too close to its nest in California is the overall winner of the world’s largest bird photography competition, which had more than 23,000 entries from all over the world.
Celebrating bird life from around the globe, these images comprise some of the most incredible bird photos in the world taken by talented photographers, whilst also raising vital funds for the competition's partner charity Birds on the Brink.
Below are a handful of OGN's favourites from this year's competition but, if you want to see them all, please go to BPOTY Winners.
Best portrait, gold award. ‘Venturing into the tropical forest, I was excited to spot the rare glistening-green tanager (Chlorochrysa phoenicotis). After hours of waiting, I saw the vivid green bird on a perfect heart-shaped leaf. Its shimmering feathers reflected a dazzling array of colours. I captured every detail, grateful for this magical moment amid the lush jungle backdrop.’ Location: Mashpi Amagusa reserve, Ecuador.
Bird behaviour, silver award. ‘In early autumn, a sardine shoal at Los Islotes attracted seabird predators. Amid the shoal, I waited patiently for the elusive shot of a blue-footed booby (Sula nebouxii) rising with a sardine in its beak. Finally, a crash came down close to me, and I instinctively captured the moment.’ Location: Los Islotes, Baja California Sur, Mexico.
Bird behaviour, bronze award. ‘A great grey owl (Strix nebulosa) adult was hunting in a wheat field, and a juvenile flew to the edge of the field to be fed. Suddenly, the parent caught some prey. I quickly pressed the shutter and captured a heartwarming moment between the parent and the next generation.’ Location: Zhejiang, China.
5-17 years, gold award, and overall young photographer winner. A Eurasian blackbird (Turdus merula) perches on the branch of a tree, creating a moody scene against the backdrop of the dark blue-black night sky and bright yellow-orange moon. Location: Mainz, Germany.
Best portrait, silver award. ‘Before capturing this image, I spent two days observing these [emperor] penguins (Aptenodytes forsteri), lying flat on the ice to avoid scaring them. Waiting for the chick to appear, I finally got this touching shot of parental love. I trekked eight hours a day on soft snow to reach this colony and even made friends with some penguins.’ Location: Antarctica.
Bird behaviour, gold award, and overall winner. ‘During the breeding season, a female peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) fiercely protects her young, attacking anything that comes near the nest. For four years, I attempted to capture these rare moments of her attacking large brown pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis) with incredible speed and agility. The high-speed chase made it challenging to capture a closeup shot with a long lens. The falcon’s precision was amazing as it struck at the pelican’s head.’ Location: southern California, US.
For more amazing images, please head to the OGN Photography Archives