A photo of a peregrine falcon attacking a large brown pelican was the overall winner of this year's Bird Photographer of the Year. Taken in California, US, photographer Jack Zhi said he had waited four years to capture the rare moment. <strong>Explore the gallery to see more photos from this year's awards.</strong>
A photo of a peregrine falcon attacking a large brown pelican was the overall winner of this year's Bird Photographer of the Year. Taken in California, US, photographer Jack Zhi said he had waited four years to capture the rare moment. Explore the gallery to see more photos from this year's awards.
Jack Zhi
Nicolas Reusens' photograph of a glistening-green tanager in the Mashpi Amagusa Reserve, Ecuador, won the award's best portrait category. "After hours of waiting, I saw the vivid green bird on a perfect heart shaped leaf. Its shimmering feathers reflected a dazzling array of colors," said Reusen.
Nicolas Reusens' photograph of a glistening-green tanager in the Mashpi Amagusa Reserve, Ecuador, won the award's best portrait category. "After hours of waiting, I saw the vivid green bird on a perfect heart shaped leaf. Its shimmering feathers reflected a dazzling array of colors," said Reusen.
Nicolas Reusens
The strange and captivating image of a blue-footed booby rising from a shoal of fish with a sardine in its beak was recognized in the bird behavior category. It was taken by photographer Henley Spiers in the waters of Los Islotes in Baja California Sur, Mexico.
The strange and captivating image of a blue-footed booby rising from a shoal of fish with a sardine in its beak was recognized in the bird behavior category. It was taken by photographer Henley Spiers in the waters of Los Islotes in Baja California Sur, Mexico.
Henley Spiers
As well as highlighting the beauty of birds, the award also wants to promote conservation. This photograph, taken by Michael Eastwell at the Bonorong Wildlife Hospital in Brighton, Tasmania, Australia, shows a vet examining the eye of a southern boobook, the smallest Australian owl species.
As well as highlighting the beauty of birds, the award also wants to promote conservation. This photograph, taken by Michael Eastwell at the Bonorong Wildlife Hospital in Brighton, Tasmania, Australia, shows a vet examining the eye of a southern boobook, the smallest Australian owl species.
Michael Eastwell
In this image, captured at a ranch in Texas, US, a northern crested caracara cranes its neck backwards to look straight into Ann Gillis' lens.
In this image, captured at a ranch in Texas, US, a northern crested caracara cranes its neck backwards to look straight into Ann Gillis' lens.
Ann Gillis
Photographed in Antarctica, two emperor penguin parents look lovingly at their chick. "Before capturing this image, I spent two days observing these penguins, lying flat on the ice to avoid scaring them. Waiting for the chick to appear, I finally got this touching shot of parental love," said photographer Thomas Vijayan.
Photographed in Antarctica, two emperor penguin parents look lovingly at their chick. "Before capturing this image, I spent two days observing these penguins, lying flat on the ice to avoid scaring them. Waiting for the chick to appear, I finally got this touching shot of parental love," said photographer Thomas Vijayan.
THOMAS VIJAYAN
Taken by Qiuqing Mu in a wheat field in Zhejiang, China, this image shows a great grey owl feeding its offspring some prey. "I quickly pressed the shutter and captured a heartwarming moment between the parent and the next generation," said Mu.
Taken by Qiuqing Mu in a wheat field in Zhejiang, China, this image shows a great grey owl feeding its offspring some prey. "I quickly pressed the shutter and captured a heartwarming moment between the parent and the next generation," said Mu.
Qiuqing Mu
Winning the comedy bird photo category, this image, captured by Antonio Aguti, shows a purple heron with a very large crucian carp in its beak. After several attempts to turn the fish on its side, the bird "voraciously swallowed" it, said Aguti.
Winning the comedy bird photo category, this image, captured by Antonio Aguti, shows a purple heron with a very large crucian carp in its beak. After several attempts to turn the fish on its side, the bird "voraciously swallowed" it, said Aguti.
Antonio Aguti
Stefan Gerrits captured this artistic photograph of a white-throated dipper at the Kitka River in Finland. "The harsh temperatures, reaching as low as minus 27 degrees Celsius (minus 17 degrees Fahrenheit), were a challenge. I focused on longer-exposure shots, using a 70 to 200 millimeter lens to capture silky-smooth water in each photo," he said.
Stefan Gerrits captured this artistic photograph of a white-throated dipper at the Kitka River in Finland. "The harsh temperatures, reaching as low as minus 27 degrees Celsius (minus 17 degrees Fahrenheit), were a challenge. I focused on longer-exposure shots, using a 70 to 200 millimeter lens to capture silky-smooth water in each photo," he said.
Stefan Gerrits
A brambling is pictured perching on a sunflower stalk during winter in Lower Silesia, Poland. Photographer Mateusz Piesiak said that flooding meant that a field of sunflowers could not be harvested, and thousands of birds, including greenfinches, goldfinches and bramblings flocked to it for foraging.
A brambling is pictured perching on a sunflower stalk during winter in Lower Silesia, Poland. Photographer Mateusz Piesiak said that flooding meant that a field of sunflowers could not be harvested, and thousands of birds, including greenfinches, goldfinches and bramblings flocked to it for foraging.
Mateusz Piesiak