Winners of the Bird Photographer of the Year 2026

© Paula Czaeczine / Bird Photographer of the Year Acrobat of the Skies .

Gold Winner, 12–14 Years.

“On a small island in Norway, I observed red-necked phalaropes foraging for food.

One bird was swimming on a pond, pecking insects from the surface.

Suddenly, it raised its head, stretched upwards, spread its wings, and fluttered into the air.” © Volker Widmann / Bird Photographer of the Year Sunset Puffin .

Silver Winner, Best Portrait.

“I spent several days on Skomer to photograph the Atlantic puffins in the early morning and late evening, when the day tourists had left the island and you had the birds almost to yourself.

This evening, I waited at the puffin colony until the sun went down and photographed this bird against the reflections in the ocean.” © Rahul Sachdev / Bird Photographer of the Year An Ostrich Horizon .

Gold Winner, Black and White.

“An ostrich makes its way towards the dry lake bed of Amboseli.

In black and white, the stark landscape emphasizes the bird’s solitary journey across the dust and heat.” © Alex Pansier / Bird Photographer of the Year Patterns .

Silver Winner, Birds in Flight.

“Captured in March 2025 on Hornøya, this image reveals a mesmerizing swarm of guillemots in flight.

What first appears as an Escher-like illusion is nature’s own design, organized chaos in motion.” © David Stowe / Bird Photographer of the Year Tiny Dancer .