The Bird Photographer of the Year (BPOTY) contest continues to showcase the best avian photography from around the world. The 2019 photo competition saw over 13,500 images submitted from 63 different countries.
UK photographer Caron Steele who took home the top prize and was named 2019 Bird Photographer of the Year for her incredible photo of a Dalmatian Pelican. Steele’s image captures an unusual moment in time. Taken at Lake Kerkini in Greece, she happened to be on site when the lake froze for the first time in 16 years. By seizing the moment, she got a unique photo of a pelican attempting to navigate this slippery surface for the first time.
The winners of the 2019 Bird Photographer of the Year

‘Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis.’ by William Steel (United Kingdom/South Africa). Bronze Award, Best Portrait.

“Emperor Penguin Aptenodytes forsteri.” by Martin Grace (United Kingdom) Winner, Inspirational Encounters Award. Photo taken in Snowhill Island, Weddell Sea, Antarctica.

‘Black-crowned Night-heron Nycticorax nycticorax.’ by Thomas Hinsche (Germany). Winner, Best Portfolio. Photo taken in Kiskunság National Park, Hungary.

“Black Skimmer Rynchops niger.” by Nikunj Patel (United States of America). Gold Award, Birds in Flight. Photo taken in Ocean City, New Jersey, United States of America.

“Little Egret – Egretta garzetta.” by Csaba Tökölyi (Hungary). Silver Award, Attention to Detail. Photo taken in Pusztaszer, Hungary.

“Dalmatian Pelican Pelecanus crispus.” by Caron Steele (United Kingdom). Winner, Bird Photographer of the Year and People’s Choice Category. Gold Award, Best Portrait. Photo taken at Lake Kerkini, Greece.

“Common Guillemot Uria aalge.” by Audun Lie Dahl, (Norway). Bronze Award, Creative Imagery. Photo taken in Hornøya, Finnmark, Norway.

“Reeves’s Pheasant Syrmaticus reevesii.” by Hu Yi (China). Bronze Award, Bird Behavior. Photo taken in Xinyang City, Henan Province, China.

“Rufous Hummingbird Selasphorus rufus.” by Madeline Nolan (United States of America). Silver Award, Young Bird Photographer of the Year. Photo taken in Colorado, United States of America.

“Mixed Seabirds.” by Kathryn Cooper (United Kingdom) Silver Award, Creative Imagery. Photo taken in RSPB Bempton Cliffs, Yorkshire, United Kingdom.

“Mixed Gulls.” by Mohammad Khorshed, (Kuwait). Gold Award, Birds in the Environment. Photo taken in Kuwait.

“Northern Goshawk – Accipiter gentilis.” by Pål Hermansen, (Norway) Gold Award, Attention to Detail. Photo taken in Trøndelag, Norway.

“Purple-crowned Fairy Heliothryx barroti.” by Ivan Sjögren (Sweden). Gold Award, Bird Behavior. Photo taken in Rancho Naturalista, Costa Rica.

“Long-tailed Duck Clangula hyemalis.” by Martin Eschholz (Germany). Bronze Award, Garden and Urban Birds. Photo taken in Port of Vardø, Varanger, Norway.

“Grey Heron Ardea cinerea.” by Jozsef Gergely (Serbia). Silver Award, Bird Behavior. Photo taken in Kanjiza, Serbia.
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