Our 10 Favourite Hen Movies From the 2025 Audubon Photography Awards

Last yr, the Audubon Photography Awards expanded to incorporate the South American international locations of Colombia and Chile. The additions proved a direct boon for everybody: Not solely have been the awards all of a sudden open to a complete new section of gifted chicken photographers and videographers, however photos that includes the 2 international locations’ jaw-dropping variety of species poured in. The entries dazzled our judges whereas giving new dimension to our winners, honorable mentions, and annual Top 100. 

Our bonus galleries additionally reaped the advantages, together with our favourite chicken behaviors and our favourite chick pics from the 2025 awards. The video gallery right here contains a 50-50 break up between clips from North and South America. Mixed in with footage of a washing Snowy Owl and loving Common Loon you’ll now discover daring Torrent Ducks and Golden-headed Manakins with strikes. So take a look at the movies beneath, study the story behind every shot, and should you’re curious to study extra about Audubon’s work in Latin America, go to right here. 

Snowy Owl by Danny Oh (above) 

Location:  Duxbury Beach, Massachusetts
Technical Details:  Sony A1 with a 200-600mm lens at 600mm; 1/240 sec at f/6.3 ; auto ISO 
Behind the Shot: I took this video as we have been leaving the seashore after photographing a number of Snowy Owls one morning. To our shock, this chicken was on the primary grime street bathing in a melted snow puddle. Not eager to miss the chance, I acquired out of my automobile, knelt down within the mud, and began to report with out using a tripod. We tried to remain the place we have been, slightly than shifting round to get nearer and inflicting the owl stress. The Snowy appeared relaxed, because it bathed for an extended whereas. This video was taken round midday in early December when the owls had not but established their territories on the seashore, and thus have been nonetheless very lively. I had by no means seen a Snowy Owl bathing and was elated. It was undoubtedly a once-in-a-lifetime expertise.

Allen’s Hummingbird by Sukhjot Singh

Location: Irvine, California
Technical Details: Sony A7 Mark III with a Sony 200-600mm G Lens at 600mm in Super-35 Mode; 1/250 sec at f/6.3; ISO 1600
Behind the Shot: Winter would possibly look like an uncommon time for nesting, however right here in Southern California, Allen’s Hummingbirds get an early begin. Beginning in October, this feminine Allen’s rigorously scouted for a nesting website. She then tirelessly collected fur, small leaves, and twigs, skillfully bonding them along with spider webs to make a nest. While incubating the eggs, she braved a number of downpours and chilly, windy nights with 40 mph gusts. Eventually, the tiniest of beaks popped out and began begging mother for meals. She was punctual in feeding, and shortly sufficient the chicks started flapping their wings. It was a bittersweet second once they took their first flight. I knew how powerful their journey was and the way exhausting their mother had labored to guard and supply for them. This candy reminiscence of her feeding a chick after its first flight will stick with me eternally. 
 

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher by Sukhjot Singh

Location: San Joaquin Marsh, Irvine, California,
Camera specs:  Sony A1 with Sony 70-200mm F2.8 GM lens at 280mm and a Sony 1.4x teleconverter; 1/1000 sec at f/5.6 with 45° shutter angle; ISO 100
Behind the Shot: Blue-gray Gnatcatchers are certainly one of our cutest songbirds, and it was my objective to indicate why they’re known as gnatcatchers with a video. Documenting these tiny birds is difficult, as they’re typically on the transfer and really swift and agile in flight. During a go to to Sea and Sage Audubon in Southern California, I noticed a small swarm of gnats hovering close to a tree. I rapidly positioned myself and waited with persistence. My efforts have been rewarded when this Blue-gray Gnatcatcher made a swift method and relished a late afternoon buffet. By slowing the footage from 120 frames per second to 24 frames per second, we are able to recognize the gnatcatcher’s agile flying, notably the temporary second when it pauses its wingbeats to descend gracefully. This second lasted only some seconds, and I’m grateful to have skilled it alongside this tiny however exceptional chicken. 

Golden-headed Manakin by Rubén Torres Restrepo

Location: Vereda San Mauricio, Yalí, Antioquia, Colombia 
Technical Details: Nikon d7500 with a Tamron 150-600 mm; 4K 24 fps (1/50 sec) at f/6 
Behind the Shot: Almost 4 years in the past I found that, in the midst of a forest that I typically traversed throughout my monitoring outings, Golden-headed Manakins collect in precisely the identical spot to lek, finishing up their courtship shows and mating practices. These leks are small areas that can be utilized for as much as a decade and at all times  have a relentless, close by supply of meals—principally small fruits—which permits them to take care of their vitality throughout their virtually all-day shows. Adult males carry out to draw females, whereas juvenile males observe their “dance moves.” At this explicit website, I’ve recorded as much as eight males on the similar time.

Torrent Duck by León Felipe Jiménez

Location: Gachetá, Cundinamarca, Colombia
Technical Details:  Sony 200–600mm G at 600mm; 4K, 120 FPS, 1/250 sec at f/8; ISO 800  
Behind the Shot: The Torrent Duck is a shy and elusive species that requires persistence, information of its conduct, and a stealthy method to {photograph}. Getting shut to those geese has been fairly a problem, as a single misstep will trigger them to swiftly flee downstream. For this motive, I method from downstream, letting the present move towards me. I transfer quietly, studying their conduct and maintaining my distance to not trigger stress. They at all times see me first, irrespective of how a lot camouflage or many hides I take advantage of. I’ve spent a number of years documenting the species’ pure historical past as a part of a brief movie about Torrent Ducks within the Andean rivers of Colombia. This explicit scene reveals a chick and its father in the midst of a speeding river. For me, the scene captures the essence of this extraordinary duck: excessive adaptation, parental care, and resilience within the face of a dynamic atmosphere. 

Common Loon by Danny Oh 

Location: Long Lake, Bridgton, Maine 
Technical Details: Sony A1 with a 200-600mm lens at 600mm, 1/240 sec at  f/6.3; auto ISO 
Behind the Shot: I’ve been following this Common Loon household in Maine for a few years. This explicit yr, the pair had one child. I imagine this scene was from the primary week after the loonlet had hatched. The child was using on its mom’s again within the afternoon after being fed the entire day, thus the newborn was full and getting drained. It quickly after yawned and fell asleep. The chicks was so treasured and cute. To not disturb the household, I hid behind a bush and recorded utilizing a tripod.

Cedar Waxwing by Andy Raupp

Location: Montello, Wisconsin
Technical Details:  Sony a1 with Sony 200-600mm lens
Behind the Shot: This video of two Cedar Waxwings splashing round in a shallow pool was taken in our yard. My dad and I constructed this water characteristic to draw birds, and through the hotter elements of the yr, it at all times attracts in a number of totally different species as they arrive for a drink or to splash round and funky off. One scorching spring day, whereas I used to be arrange with my digital camera close to the water characteristic, a small flock of Cedar Waxwings flew in. I used to be thrilled to seize this slow-motion video of two of the waxwings splashing round. 

Rainbow-bearded Thornbill by Juan Jacobo Castillo

Location: Armenia, Quindío, Colombia
Technical Details: Canon R7 with Rf 100-500mm lens; 120 fps at F5.6; ISO 800
Behind the Shot: This video was captured within the Colombian Andes, at two miles above sea stage, in a patch of Andean forest the place this hummingbird makes its residence. The footage was the results of ready for six hours within the chilly, rain, and fog. After many cups of scorching espresso, and because the fog slowly lifted, I noticed the hummingbird because the solar started to interrupt via. I watched it feed on totally different flowers, dozing off at instances, preening, and stretching its feathers in numerous moments. It is well-known that these birds are extremely territorial, typically returning to their favourite perches. So I centered on the department the place I knew it will land, ready the digital camera, and captured this magical second because the chicken preened and stretched its feathers. 

Black-necked Swan by Sebastian Jesus Varela Monsalve

Location: La Albarrada, Arauco, Chile
Technical Details: Sony a7r4 with Sony 200-600; 1/800 sec at f/6; ISO 200
Behind the Shot: I used to be out on the lookout for birds with my companion, and due to a tip from a good friend, we went to La Albarrada, situated in our residence metropolis of Arauco. To attain this wetland, it’s important to drive all the way down to the bottom of a hill. When we arrived, we noticed a pair of Black-necked Swans with their chicks. They have been very calm beside the street, so we merely acquired out of the automobile and took out our tools to seize pictures and movies. We spent a very long time there, having fun with that particular second.

White-vented Plumeleteer by Juan Antonio Alonso de Juan

Location:: Pacho, Cundinamarca, Colombia
Technical Details: Nikon D850 with Sigma modern 150-600mm lens at 600mm; 1/640 sec at f/6,3; ISO 250
Behind the Shot: Over the years, throughout my walks with my canines, I’ve been accumulating small native crops that develop alongside the perimeters of paths which can be often destined to be lower throughout routine clearing. I give them an opportunity to develop in my backyard, and I particularly like to gather flowering crops that entice hummingbirds. This supplies these birds with a everlasting, pure feeding place, as totally different timber and shrubs produce flowers at totally different instances of the yr.  In this explicit video, the flower of the nacedero tree may be seen, whose blossoms feed a minimum of seven totally different species of hummingbirds that I’ve noticed in my backyard.