Nikon Guidelines the 2025 Bird Photographer of the Year Awards

Bird images is a difficult style that gives us spectacular insights into the world of avian creatures. While it’s a area of interest style, it’s nonetheless fairly standard amongst photographers and chook watchers, each of whom have constantly tried to preserve the various species. To honor these behind the lens and their contributions, Bird Photographer of the Year, a famend platform within the trade, has bestowed them with the chance to showcase their work. And in the present day, they lastly unveil the winners of the extremely anticipated wards.

All photos are courtesy of Bird Photographer of the Year. Used with permission. The lead picture is by Sarthak Agrawal.

In 2025, Bird Photographer of the Year acquired 25,000 entries from around the globe. The photographers weren’t solely competing for the title in 8 classes but in addition for a grand prize of three,000 kilos. Before we get to the winners, here’s a fast take a look at the gear the winners have used, which helped to win the award.

Cameras

Lenses

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The record clearly reveals that full-frame cameras are the winners, with solely two APS-C choices and one MFT gadget. Similarly, there are 10 mirrorless cameras, 4 DSLRs, and a drone digicam. If we have been to separate the record by firm, then you definitely would see 6 Nikon cameras, adopted by 3 Canon and three Sony cameras, with one Olympus. This proves that Nikon cameras, significantly mirrorless, are fairly standard amongst chook photographers.

The oldest digicam on the record is by Nikon, the D4, launched in 2012, then the Olympus E-M1 Mark II, launched in 2016, similar to the Nikon D5600. This additional proves, it’s not the gear however the photographer. There are 7 prime lenses, and the remaining 13 are zooms. The oldest lens on the record is the Nikon 14-24mm f2.8, which is designed for a DSLR. But not like Nikon, it seems that Canon has extra lenses on the record (10), adopted by Nikon (7), after which Sony (6).

Winner of Bird Photographer of the Year

Liron Gertsman, Canada

After nicely over a 12 months of planning and a couple of week of in-person scouting on the coast of Sinaloa in Mexico, Liron’s dream of capturing a chook in entrance of a complete photo voltaic eclipse lastly got here true on April 8, 2024. Totality was as a consequence of final virtually 4.5 minutes, and he had enlisted the assistance of a ship to place myself close to some islets off Mazatlán that have been frequented by seabirds. As the moon uncovered the solar’s edge on the finish of totality, he captured this Magnificent Frigatebird in entrance of the spectacular eclipse section generally known as the ‘diamond ring’, a second that lasts simply seconds. The picture can also be the winner of the Birds in Flight class.

Canon EOS R5 with Canon RF 100–500mm f4.5–7.1 lens. 400mm; 1/4,000s; f7.1; ISO 10,000.

YOUNG BIRD PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR 2025

Tomasz Michalski, Poland

Tomasz took this photograph in the course of the greatest journey of my life, which was to Central America in July 2024, within the first nation we visited, Nicaragua. He noticed this large vulture drying its wings on a pole near our lodge. Tomasz was being watched by the chook, but it surely was very calm, so he had a very long time to {photograph} it. The surroundings wasn’t stunning, so he determined to border it with solely a part of the chook being within the photograph. Tomasz tried varied combos, and this one is my favorite. The picture additionally received the 15-17 Years class.

Olympus E-M1 Mark II with Leica 100–400mm f4–6.3 lens. 400mm; 1/320s; f22; ISO 125.

BEST PORTRAIT

Steffen Foerster, Germany | Gold Award

Giant petrels are the scavengers of the Southern Ocean, usually seen feeding on carrion. This particular person has their head stained pink with blood from a latest meal. Although their feeding habits could appear ugly, these birds play an important function within the ecosystem by stopping the unfold of illness. Despite their look, big petrels are surprisingly devoted dad and mom, with each men and women taking turns incubating their single egg and guarding their chick for weeks. Once closely persecuted for his or her oil, their populations have rebounded because of conservation efforts, though they nonetheless face threats from fishing practices and local weather change.

Canon EOS R5 with Canon RF 400mm f2.8 lens. 400mm; 1/3,200s; f2.8; ISO 1,000.

Maxime Legare-Vezina, Canada | Silver Award

After the devastating wildfires of summer season 2024, Maxime visited Jasper to witness the desolation. In the scorched panorama, the place ash lined every part, just a few animals had returned. Among them, Common Ravens have been a few of the first to reclaim the land. This one, perched on a charred tree, was calling out, as if mourning the lack of its kingdom.

Canon EOS R5 with Canon EF 600mm f4 III lens. 600mm; 1/400s; f4; ISO 1,250.

Luca Lorenz, Germany | Bronze Award

Luca was photographing a small flock of Alpine Choughs at 2,300 metres within the Swiss Alps when the temperature dropped to a biting −10°C and the wind whipped snow throughout the bottom in swirling gusts. Yet the choughs, completely tailored to those harsh situations, appeared utterly unfazed as they hopped round, looking for scraps left behind by vacationers. He beloved watching them as they flew and moved by the blizzard in a very elegant means.

Nikon Z 8 with Nikon Z 14–30mm f4 lens. 22mm; 1/1,000s; f9; ISO 560.

BIRD BEHAVIOUR

Francesco Guffanti, Italy | Gold Award

A Red Deer killed by a automotive within the pine forest close to to the place Francesco lives offered a implausible alternative to doc the exercise of carnivores and scavengers visiting the carcass. With the assistance of a buddy he positioned and camouflaged a movement sensor and two mirrorless cameras close by. To keep away from any disturbance, Francesco prevented the usage of flashes or some other sort of synthetic mild. After foxes, crows and a few small birds had paid a go to, most unexpectedly, and regardless of the thick blanket of branches, a Golden Eagle appeared and descended to feed on the carcass. It was an unforgettable expertise for him.

Nikon Z 6 with Nikon Z 24–70mm f4 lens. 35mm; 1/250s; f5; ISO 4,000.

Mateusz Piesiak, Poland | Silver Award

This male capercaillie, illuminated by the primary rays of the rising solar, perched within the ultimate spot. Mateusz’s feelings are laborious to place into phrases. Overwhelmed by the scene, he forgot to regulate my digicam settings, leading to many of the images being blurry. Thankfully, although, just a few turned out sharp!

Canon EOS R5 with Canon EF 400mm f2.8 II lens. 400mm; 1/1,600s; f2.8; ISO 800.

Chen Ein-Dor, Israel | Bronze Award

When a male Asian Houbara (often known as Macqueen’s Bustard) performs his courtship dance, he puffs out his stunning white breast feathers and begins working round, normally in a outstanding place – all so as to entice a mate. This bustard is often very shy and tough to see as a consequence of its splendidly cryptic plumage. For this cause, the perfect time to {photograph} these birds is in the course of the breeding season when the males are displaying. For a few years, Chen has dreamed of photographing a bustard dancing within the desert, and eventually, with a variety of endurance and a stroke of luck, he managed to method one slowly till he bought shut sufficient to seize it strutting its stuff.

Nikon Z 9 with Nikon Z 600mm f4 lens and 1.4x teleconverter. 840mm; 1/2,500s; f5.6; ISO 1,000.

BIRDS IN FLIGHT

Baiju Patil, India | Silver Award

The fields of marigolds across the village of Hiware Bazar are a sight to behold, and seeing the flocks of swallows skimming over them gave me the concept for this photograph. Bajju observed that a few of the birds saved feeding over the identical space, and arrange my digicam in order that he may fireplace it with a distant. This is likely one of the many 1000’s of images he took and is the one Bajju is most happy with.

Nikon D4 with Nikon 14–24mm f2.8 lens. 14mm; 1/250s; f10; ISO 200.

Tibor Litauszki, Hungary | Bronze Award

It was January, and nature had created some very fascinating shapes within the saline lakes close to Akasztó in Hungary. Tibor despatched up my drone and was in search of the precise composition when a dozen geese immediately flew into view. He instantly began taking images, and by chance, every part fell into place – the composition in addition to the geese.

DJI Mavic 2 Zoom. 4mm; 1/1,000s; f2.8; ISO 100.

BIRDS IN THE ENVIRONMENT

Franco Banfi, Switzerland | Gold Award

Franco was within the Sea of Cortez, close to Los Islotes, a fistful of rocks that’s a part of the Espíritu Santo archipelago, to doc the unbelievable restoration of this marine protected space. Los Islotes is the southernmost breeding web site of the California sea Lion within the Northern Hemisphere, however it’s a splendidly wild place for a lot of different causes. He was fascinated by the extraordinary abilities and class of Brandt’s Cormorants as they consumed an virtually countless college of small pilchards. Most of the searching actions occurred at sundown, when the low pure mild situations have been difficult. But on one event, the situations have been beneficial and he was capable of take this specific picture that provides a three-dimensional perspective.

Sony A7R III with Sony 18–15mm f4 lens. 15mm; 1/200s; f8; ISO 400.

Levi Fitze, Switzerland | Silver Award

Levi noticed this Rock Ptarmigan strolling slowly up a snowy hillside within the Swiss mountains on a frozen winter’s day. Ptarmigans are masters of camouflage, their white winter plumage mixing in so nicely with the snow. He observed that the footprints this chook was leaving within the snow, emphasised by the low, flat mild, have been maybe extra noticeable than the chook itself. Levi then framed the picture in order that the chook was a part of the image to spotlight its expansive surroundings and present the great textures within the snow.

Sony a7 IV with Sony 200–600mm f5.6–6.3 lens. 512mm; 1/2,000s; f6.3; ISO 800.

Steffen Foerster, Germany | Bronze Award

Steffen photographed this group of King Penguins rising from the ocean on a cloudy summer season morning. He lay flat on the shore to seize each the dramatic sky and the reflections within the moist sand. When one of many penguins began trumpeting and pointing its head in the direction of the clouds, it felt to me like a celebration of life, a conquer the risks of traversing the huge ocean seeking meals. For the penguins, nevertheless, these calls are finely tuned songs (though they might not sound very melodic to the human ear) that permit mates to recognise one another amidst a sprawling colony that may include 1000’s and 1000’s of people. So, this name successfully interprets as one resounding “I’m back home!”

Canon EOS R5 with Canon RF 70–200mm f2.8 lens. 86mm; 1/1,000s; f2.8; ISO 4,000.

BLACK AND WHITE

Jannik Jansons, Germany | Gold Award

Using a wide-angle lens, Jannik photographed a shag taking off on the Norwegian island of Hornøya. In the picture, it appears like a huge chook flying over all of the others, however in actuality, the chook is flying very near the lens and subsequently seems a lot bigger. Because of the very small aperture, the solar is captured as a star by the blades of the lens. The conversion to black and white reinforces the complicated perspective, as the small print are laborious to see, and it’s tougher to find out the birds’ relative dimension.

Canon EOS R5 with Canon EF 16–35mm f2.8 III lens. 34mm; 1/640s; f22; ISO 800.

Raoul Slater, Australia | Silver Award

At 13, Raoul switched my Canon AE-1 from programme mode to aperture precedence – and he labored that means ever since. Raoul prefers controlling depth of discipline first, shutter velocity second. It normally works – besides in moments like this, when photographing in low, pre-dawn mild, when the solar immediately rises. He forgot to regulate; the shutter velocity maxed out, and the picture blew out. This photograph, taken on a misty morning, appeared three stops brighter than he had visualised – and it took my breath away. Sometimes, a divine accident redeems a thousand errors.

Canon EOS R5 with Canon EF 100–400mm f4.5–5.6 II lens. 263mm; 1/8,000s; f5; ISO 800.

Jim Lee, Singapore | Bronze Award

Jim was watching this fledgling Buffy Fish Owl perched in a tree when heavy rain started to fall. He took shelter whereas retaining the owl in sight, ready for the precise second. It flew all the way down to a low, unlit road mild, and Jim rapidly stepped out to {photograph} it. Using a low shutter velocity, he moved so {that a} distant illuminated road mild was simply out of the nook of the body so as to illuminate the rain streaks, whereas water droplets on close by leaves added depth to the foreground. The chook remained fairly nonetheless, its feathers drenched by the rain, however often shook itself vigorously, sending water droplets flying in all instructions. This second captured the resilience of wildlife enduring unpredictable climate.

Sony a1 with Sony 85mm f1.4 II lens. 85mm; 1/20s; f1.4; ISO 2,500.

CREATIVE PERSPECTIVES

Philipp Egger, Italy | Gold Award

Phillipp’s concept behind this {photograph} was to seize a kingfisher flying over a bit of paintings in order that the 2 turned merged. To obtain this, he mounted my digicam on a useless fallen tree throughout a small stream and pointed it vertically downwards on the paintings positioned simply above the water’s floor. Phillipp then waited for days in my camouflaged tent not far-off, triggering the digicam with a radio distant launch when the chook flew over the image.

Nikon Z 7 II with Nikon Z 24–70mm f4 lens. 36mm; 1/200s; f11; ISO 125.

Andreas Hemb, Sweden | Silver Award

Nothing heralds the arrival of spring extra evocatively than the sight and sound of migrant birds in Sweden, with the looks of Whooper Swans being a selected spotlight. Andreas took this picture at nightfall because the swans have been gathering in a discipline subsequent to a lake. Using a sluggish shutter velocity to stress movement, he tracked one of many swans because it got here in to land, aiming to seize its grace towards an summary sea of swans on the bottom.

Sony a1 with Sony 400mm f2.8 lens. 400mm; 1/4s; f5.6; ISO 500.

Jim Lee, Singapore | Bronze Award

This photograph is of a Buffy Fish Owl perched atop a road mild, a frequent spot from which these birds hunt. The distinction between the darkish night time sky and the intense mild ends in the owl going unnoticed by most passersby. To seize a novel perspective, Jim positioned myself immediately beneath the chook, utilizing a wide-angle lens and pointing my digicam upwards. The lamp publish serves as a number one line, drawing consideration to the owl centred within the body. The road mild and treetop branches create a placing mix of city and pure components, highlighting the owl’s adaptability to city life.

Sony a1 with Sony 16–35mm f2.8 II lens. 35mm; 1/20s; f2.8; ISO 1,600.

URBAN BIRDS

Alex Pansier, Netherlands | Gold Award

A lone chook rests on an unlimited discipline of photo voltaic panels alongside a freeway within the Netherlands – a placing image of the strain between inexperienced power and nature. As we transition to sustainable energy, the infrastructure usually claims scarce house that would have been left for wildlife. This spontaneous second captures that paradox: progress requires house, however at what price to nature? No bait was used – only a fleeting encounter between a chook and a modern-day monoculture.

Sony a1 with Sony 100–400mm f4.5-5.6 lens. 348mm; 1/500s; f13; ISO 6,400.

Tomáš Grim, Czech Republic | Silver Award

Eurasian Jays will not be usually regarded as city birds, however can typically be present in parks and gardens. They virtually all the time construct their nests in timber, avoiding synthetic constructions – so when a buddy reported discovering a jay’s nest inside (!) a streetlamp, Tomáš thought-about it a joke; the Eurasian Jay is just not a gap nester. Yet he couldn’t resist checking it out, and to my amazement, the nest was actual. He waited for the ‘blue hour’ to mix the nice and cozy mild from the lamp with the chilly colors of this distinctive nest’s environment earlier than taking this photograph.

Nikon Z 8 with Nikon Z 180–600mm f5.6–6.3 lens. 250mm; 1/20s; f7.1; ISO 1,000.

Benoit Henrion, France | Bronze Award

This disused French chapel was occupied by Barn Owls, who had no flat surfaces on which they might nest. So Benoit put in a nest field inside and was shocked and delighted when, a 12 months and a half later, a pair settled in and bred efficiently. The photograph was taken from my conceal tent at nightfall, the sunshine coming from the road lamps that had simply been turned on.

Canon EOS 1D X Mark III with Canon EF 70–200mm f2.8 lens. 175mm; 1/30s; f2.8; ISO 3,200.

CONSERVATION

Sarthak Agrawal, India | Gold Award

This image is of an injured juvenile Common Hawk-Cuckoo that had been rescued after being hit by a car within the metropolis. The chook had taken shelter beneath a parked automotive earlier than being rescued by the Man with Indies Foundation and despatched for remedy beneath the forest division’s steerage. To assess the harm to its wings, a radiograph was obtained after anesthetising the chook. Common Hawk-Cuckoos are brood parasites, laying their eggs within the nests of smaller city birds like sunbirds, prinias, and tailorbirds. While these smaller birds have tailored nicely to city environments, the a lot bigger hawk-cuckoo struggles to navigate and survive. Every 12 months, a number of cuckoo chicks are discovered beneath related circumstances, and foundations like ManwithIndies rescue a lot of them.

Nikon D5600 with Nikon 18–55mm f3.5-5.6 lens. 18mm; 1/60s; f5.6; ISO 320.

Charlotte Keast, United Kingdom | Silver Award

In heartbreaking distinction to its wild friends, this Shoebill stork is confined in a small, soiled cage in a zoo in Entebbe, Uganda. Known for his or her solitary and elusive nature, Shoebills thrive in huge wetlands, searching in silence and flying gracefully over open landscapes. Here, trapped behind glass for the complete day and on full show to the general public, this majestic chook is disadvantaged of house to fly, hunt, or retreat from the fixed gaze of holiday makers. Just just a few miles away, its wild counterparts benefit from the freedom of Uganda’s marshes – a stark reminder of the unnatural situations that captivity imposes on such extraordinary creatures.

Canon EOS R5 with Canon RF 14-35mm f4 lens. 14mm; 1/2,500s; f4; ISO 160.

Hira Punjabi, India | Bronze Award

The Greater Adjutant is a Near Threatened species with a inhabitants of fewer than 1,500 mature people left within the wild. It was very unhappy to see such a uncommon chook struggling for meals at this garbage dump.

Nikon Z 9 with Nikon Z 400mm f2.8 lens. 400mm; 1/1,600s; f8; ISO 800.

12 – 14 YEARS

Harry Sedin, Sweden

Haleakalā National Park is notorious for altitude illness, however visiting it led me to an unforgettable second. Feeling lightheaded at 9 thousand ft, we turned again and stopped at Hosmer Grove Campground. The second Harry stepped out, flashes of pink flickered by the timber, three to 4 ‘I‘iwi landing on a sunlit bush. With harsh light and no clouds above us, he underexposed the shot, creating a black background that made the bird’s scarlet feathers glow. The altitude could have made me miss out on a Short-eared Owl, but it surely gave me the proper alternative to seize Hawaii’s iconic honeycreeper in beautiful distinction.

Canon EOS R7 with Canon EF 100–400mm f5.6–8 lens. 400mm; 1/320s; f8; ISO 1,000.

11 AND UNDER

Sasha Jumanca, Germany

While exploring the Danube Delta in Romania this summer season, Sasha found a European Bee-eater colony in a nesting cliff the place the birds have been tirelessly chasing prey for his or her chicks nestled within the burrows. The birds have been flying over a discipline of wildflowers, whose colors superbly mirrored the bee-eaters’ plumage. She was captivated by their agility as they swiftly modified velocity and path, monitoring bugs by the air. After many makes an attempt, Sasha lastly captured this chook in flight, its wings totally unfold, exhibiting the gorgeous colors of its feathers in nice concord with the flowers.

Nikon Z 9 with Nikon Z 600mm f4 lens. 600mm; 1/4,000s; f4; ISO 1,250.

The 2026 version of Bird Photographer of the Year is open now. To take part, head to thier website.