The Bird Photographer of the Year 2025 contest has once again brought together breathtaking artistry, technical mastery, and an enduring love for birdlife. With more than 33,000 entries submitted from across the globe, this year’s competition showcases the diversity and wonder of the avian world through 30 award-winning images that leave viewers in awe. From delicate portraits of songbirds to dramatic captures of birds in flight, these photographs celebrate the beauty, fragility, and resilience of nature.
Taking the coveted title of Bird Photographer of the Year, Canadian photographer Liron Gertsman impressed the judges with his image “The Frigatebird and the Diamond Ring.” The photograph, which also won Gold in the Birds in Flight category, captures a frigatebird silhouetted perfectly against the solar eclipse, uniting celestial wonder with natural grace. For this extraordinary work, Gertsman received the prestigious title along with the grand prize of £3,500.
Beyond the overall winner, the contest recognized excellence across multiple categories such as Best Portrait, Birds in the Environment, and Creative Imagery. Each winning entry reflects not just technical precision but also an emotional connection between photographer and subject. Whether it’s a kingfisher emerging from the water in a spray of droplets, or a snowy owl set against an icy horizon, the award-winning photographs invite audiences to experience intimate moments of avian life rarely seen by the human eye.
The Bird Photographer of the Year contest continues to be more than a competition—it is a platform to raise awareness for bird conservation. Proceeds from the event support Birds on the Brink, a charity dedicated to protecting endangered species and their habitats. These 30 remarkable images remind us of the delicate balance of our ecosystems and the urgent need to preserve them for future generations.
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#1. Overall Winner: "The Frigatebird and the Diamond Ring: by Liron Gertsman
Gertsman wins the top prize of £3,500 and the prestigious title. His image also won Gold Award in the Birds in Flight category.
"I spent well over a year of planning to capture my dream of a bird in front of the total solar eclipse,” says Gertsman. “I enlisted the help of a boat to position myself near some islets off Mazatlán that were frequented by seabirds. As the moon uncovered the sun’s edge at the end of totality, I captured this image during the eclipse phase known as the ‘diamond ring’ – a moment that lasts mere seconds."
#2. Young Bird Photographer of the Year: "Vulture Silhouette" by Tomasz Michalski
"The Young Bird Photographer of the Year 2025 was awarded to 16-year-old Polish photographer Tomasz Michalski for his striking vulture silhouette."
#3. Best Portfolio – Winner: "Sunflower Paradise" by Mateusz Piesiak
"Sometimes, nature thrives in the most unexpected places. Due to unusually high water levels, a vast sunflower field was left unharvested. While this was a financial loss for the owner, it became a paradise for birds. The field, filled with high-calorie seeds, turned into a vital refuge for tens of thousands of goldfinches. I had never witnessed such a large flock of these birds gathered in one place – it was as if they had arrived from miles around, drawn by this rare and abundant food source. For hours, hidden among the towering sunflowers, I observed and photographed this remarkable scene."
#4. Best Portrait – Gold: "Bloody Petrel" by Steffen Foerster
#5. Best Portrait – Silver: "Voice of the Ash Forest" by Maxime Legare-Vezina
#6. Best Portrait – Bronze: "Snowstorm" by Luca Lorenz
#7. Birds in the Environment – Gold: "Feasting at Sunset" by Franco Banfi
#8. Birds in the Environment – Silver: "Structures" by Levi Fitze
#9. Birds in the Environment – Bronze: "Triumphant Arrival" by Steffen Foerster
#10. Bird Behaviour – Gold: "Angel or Demon" by Francesco Guffanti
#11. Bird Behaviour – Silver: "King of the Forest" by Mateusz Piesiak
#12. Bird Behaviour – Bronze: "Swollen Chest" by Chen Ein-dor
#13. Birds in Flight – Silver: "Through the Marigold" by Baiju Patil
#14. Birds in Flight – Bronze: "Overflight" by Tibor Litauszki
#15. Black and White – Gold: "The Giant" by Jannik Jansons
#16. Black and White – Silver: "Black and White Swan" by Raoul Slater
#17. Black and White – Bronze: "On My Own" by Jim Lee
#18. Urban Birds – Gold: "Feathered on Panels" by Alex Pansier
#19. Urban Birds – Silver: "Urban Incubator" by Tomáš Grim
#20. Urban Birds – Bronze: "Sainte Trinité" by Benoit Henrion
#21. Creative Perspectives – Gold: "Photo Art" by Philipp Egger
#22. Creative Perspectives – Silver: "Landing in a Sea of Swans" by Andreas Hemb
#23. Creative Perspectives – Bronze: "Under Your Nose" by Jim Lee
#24. Conservation – Gold: "Radiographing" by Sarthak Agrawal
#25. Conservation – Silver: "Trapped" by Charlotte Keast
#26. Conservation – Bronze: "Vanishing Species" by Hira Punjabi
#27. Conservation Award: "The Loon Ranger" by Joshua Burch
"This category looks at images that tell a story of conservation efforts or the struggle of a particular species. Our congratulations go to Joshua Burch from the UK, who wins the Conservation Award this year for his series of images following the dedication of ‘the loon ranger’."
#28. 15-17 years – Silver: "Forest Guardian" by Tytus Marchewka
#29. 12-14 years – Gold: "Jewel of the Forest" by Harry Sedin
#30. 11 and under – Gold: "Graceful Flight Over Wild Bloom" by Sasha Jumanca
