Bird photography has a wild ability to stop you mid-scroll. One second you’re casually browsing, and the next you’re staring at a split-second scene so perfect it feels almost scripted. That’s the energy packed into the Academy Photo Awards 2026 bird winners. These images aren’t just pretty portraits of birds perched on branches. They’re bursts of timing, instinct, tension, elegance, and pure natural theater.
The Academy Photo Awards has built a reputation for spotlighting exceptional photography from around the world, honoring artists whose work captures craft, patience, and a distinct point of view across nature, people, places, and modern visual culture. In this year’s Birds category, the winners delivered all of that and then some. There’s movement, emotion, surprise, and storytelling in every frame.
The 1st Place winner, Xiaoping Lin from China, stunned with Pass By, a dramatic scene where a big fish chases a smaller one out of the water right past a startled egret. It’s chaotic, poetic, and gone in a blink. 2nd Place went to Xuejun Long from China for Morning Dance, where two crowned cranes step into the glowing red dawn like they’re performing a love story on stage. 3rd Place winner Jesse Cason from the UK captured a snowy standoff in Jays fighting with an audience, freezing a hilarious and beautifully timed moment of avian drama in Norway. Each photo creates its own kind of tension, mood, and movement.
Together, these 36 winning photos remind us that birds don’t just fly through landscapes. They bring landscapes to life.
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#1. 1st Place Winner: Pass By by Xiaoping Lin, China
"The big fish chased the small fish and rushed out of the water together, passing the egret. The egret looked surprised and did not know where the small fish would go under the laws of nature? Just like a poem: I passed you by. You hurried here. Before I noticed, you had gone far away, leaving me a regretful back."
#2. 2nd Place Winner: Morning Dance by Xuejun Long, China
"The morning glow reflected the red sky, and the two crowned cranes flew to the pool to show their affection, and they couldn’t wait to dance, envying the hanging storks on the side."
#3. 3rd Place Winner: Jays fighting with an audience by Jesse Cason, United Kingdom (UK)
"Taken in the snow of Norway. I was there hoping to photograph Golden Eagles, however this proved difficult. In the meantime there were some Jays frolicking in the snow and fighting over food. I was lucky enough to capture these two with a third bird seemingly watching the show."
Honorable Mentions
#4. Kingfisher with a frog by Graeme Guy, Malaysia
#5. Red-bearded Bee-eater by Graeme Guy, Malaysia
#6. Mother’s love by Dikye Ariani, Indonesia
#7. The gift by Graeme Guy, Malaysia
#8. Singing Bird by Santosh Gorla, India
#9. Fish dance by Haikun Liang by China
#10. Chow Line by Craig Deman, United States (US)
#11. Parenting by Santanu Bose, India
#12. The Last Light by Pavan Prasad, India
#13. Empire of Decay by Suman Chakraborty, India
#14. Reflection by Sanjoy Kumar, Bangladesh
#15. Chicken on paint by Jason Wilson, United States (US)
#16. Making the Moment by Shadab Ishtiyak, Bangladesh
#17. The wonder by Paola Dova Fenini, Switzerland
#18. Birds or Boxers by Reaz Ahmed Sumon, Bangladesh
#19. Pettirosso by Claudio Bonaccorsi, Italy
#20. Takeaway Ribs by Ken Ang, Singapore
#21. Nyx by Reagle Photography, United States (US)
#22. Purple Sunbird by Aye Chan Tun, Myanmar
#23. Off and away by Gregory Tansell, Australia
#24. Kingfisher by Antwan Janssen, Netherlands
#25. Brief Encounter by John Grusd, United States (US)
#26. Sustenance by Heather Smith, Australia
#27. Between Worlds by Krzysztof Tollas, Poland
#28. Celestial Calligraphy: Northern Gannets by Marcel van Beek, Germany
#29. The individual by Håkan Liljenberg, Sweden
#30. A hawk’s winter flight by Sawyer Jones, United States (US)
#31. Birds in love by Konstantina Agapitou, Greece
#32. Duello Aereo by Luigi De Rosa, Italy
#33. Kedasih Bird by Dikye Ariani, Indonesia
#34. Prayer for peace by Hiroto Fukuda, Japan
#35. Feathers by Zoltan Toth, United States (US)
#36. American Kestrel by Alexandra Buxbaum, United States (US)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Academy Photo Awards 2026 Birds category about?
The Birds category at the Academy Photo Awards 2026 celebrates outstanding bird photography from around the world. It honors photographers who capture rare behavior, striking beauty, emotional storytelling, and fleeting wildlife moments.
Who won 1st place in the bird category at the Academy Photo Awards 2026?
Xiaoping Lin from China won 1st place for Pass By, a dramatic image of a large fish chasing a smaller fish out of the water beside a surprised egret. The photo stands out for its timing, motion, tension, and storytelling.
What made Morning Dance by Xuejun Long special?
Morning Dance, which earned 2nd place, captures two crowned cranes flying into a glowing pool at dawn and beginning a courtship-like dance. The red morning light, elegant movement, and emotional connection make the image feel cinematic and intimate.
Why is Jesse Cason’s Jays fighting with an audience memorable?
Jesse Cason’s 3rd place image freezes a lively moment in snowy Norway, where two jays appear to be fighting while a third bird watches like a spectator. It’s memorable because it combines wildlife action, humor, composition, and perfect timing into a single frame.
Why do bird photography award galleries attract so much attention?
Bird photography award galleries attract attention because they combine beauty, action, and surprise. Birds move fast, behave unpredictably, and create dramatic scenes in nature. When photographers capture those moments with strong composition and storytelling, the images feel exciting and alive.
