After extensive planning spanning over a year and a week spent scouting the stunning Sinaloa coastline in Mexico, Canadian photographer Liron Gertsman achieved an extraordinary feat: capturing a breathtaking portrait of a Magnificent frigatebird soaring before the backdrop of a total solar eclipse. This remarkable photograph earned him the title of winner in the prestigious Bird Photographer of the Year competition for 2025, highlighting the dedication and meticulous planning that goes into documenting some of the world’s most fascinating avian species.
The competition attracted an astounding 33,000 entries from photographers worldwide this year, including categories reserved for young talents. With a focus on conservation, the contest also contributed over £5,000 to Birds on the Brink, a charity committed to funding grassroots initiatives that support bird conservation efforts.
Categories such as Urban Birds, Best Portrait, and Birds in the Environment illustrate the diverse behaviors and habitats of these incredible birds. For instance, Steffen Foerster’s close-up image of a Southern giant petrel, featuring its blood-stained face after a hearty meal, grabs attention. Similarly, Luca Lorenz captures the determined gaze of an Alpine chough braving a snowstorm in the Swiss Alps. Other noteworthy entries include Benoit Henrion’s intimate look at a trio of Western barn owls residing in a French church and Baiju Patil’s vibrant capture of Barn swallows swooping over colorful marigolds in India.
To view the winners’ gallery, explore the contest’s website, where you can also purchase a beautifully curated book featuring this year’s top photographs, published by Princeton University Press. Entries for the 2026 competition are also now open.
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