A prestigious annual photography award for bird lovers has announced its 2026 winners.

The grand prize winning photograph of Bird Photographer of the Year, titled Sunball Rocket (above), was taken by Henry Spiers from the UK.

Entered into the Birds in the Environment category, which it also won, the picture was taken in waters around Scotland.

“The handsome northern gannets lead a dualistic existence”, wrote Spiers, about his photograph. “In the nest, their newborn is carefully nurtured, and a couple’s bond is reinforced by pointing sharp beaks to the sky as they tenderly stroke their white necks together. In flight, hunting mode takes over, and piercing yellow eyes, fringed with blue circles, scour the sea for prey.” Gannets dive into the water from heights of up to 30 metres, at speeds of up to 60 miles per hour.

Competition organisers revealed that they received more than 24,000 submissions this year from photographers around the world, with a grand prize of £3000 for the overall winner.

Taking first place for Young Bird Photographer of the Year was 16-year-old photographer Parham Pourahmad, from the US, with the shot Moonlit Night (below). It features a great horned owl framed against the full moon: “I found a pair of great horned owls nesting in a park next to my house. I headed out at dusk, hoping to capture a strong portrait of the owls”, said Pourahmad.

“However, my aim shifted when I saw the full moon rising on the horizon. One of the owls flew down to a pine tree, and I quickly moved into position to frame it against the moon.”

Moonlit Night by Parham Pouramad. Image © Parham Pouramad / Bird Photographer of the Year

Competition organisers say that conservation is at the heart of this competition, and that this year it has donated over £5,000 to its partner charity Birds on the Brink, which in turn funds grassroots bird conservation projects globally.

Entries for next year’s competition are already open, with amateur and professional photographers alike encouraged to submit their bird pictures at birdpoty.com.

See a range of other category winners, from Birds Behaviour to Urban Birds, below.

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