35 Remarkable Award-Winning Photos from the 2025 SINWP Bird Photographer of the Year

Written by : Venkat Prakash

Bird photography hits different when it’s done right. One second it’s patience and silence, the next it’s pure chaos—wings slicing air, feathers catching light, eyes locked in survival mode. The 2025 SINWP Bird Photographer of the Year Awards, presented by the Society of International Nature and Wildlife Photographers (SINWP), delivered exactly that energy. This year’s collection of 35 award-winning bird photos feels alive—raw, intimate, and deeply respectful of birds in their natural habitat.

Photographers from across the globe submitted their best work, competing for 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and Gold awards, and the results are nothing short of stunning. These images don’t just look good—they tell stories about patience, coexistence, and conservation. Every frame feels earned, shaped by cold mornings, long waits, and a deep love for wildlife.

The 1st Place winner, Gary Neville, takes the crown with his powerful image “Dalmatian Pelican.” Shot at Lake Kerkini in northern Greece, the photo captures one of the world’s most iconic birds gliding closer to a fishing boat. Neville leaned over the edge, camera hovering just above the water, as pelicans approached—drawn by discarded fish unsuitable for sale but vital for local wildlife. It’s calm, respectful, and beautifully balanced, showing how humans and nature can quietly share space.

Coming in 2nd Place, Maggie Bullock delivers chills with “Great Grey Owl Encounter.” Captured near Kuusamo, Finland, the image freezes a heart-racing moment as an owl swoops straight toward the lens. Maggie dropped low on a narrow path, using a fast shutter and open aperture to lock the bird against a snowy backdrop. The result? Pure majesty in motion.

Together, these 35 images celebrate birds not as subjects—but as wild, powerful beings worth protecting.

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#1. 1st Place: “Dalmatian Pelican” by Gary Neville

“The image was taken in Lake Kerkini in northern Greece. The lake, actually a man-made reservoir, is rich in wildlife and is especially renowned for its Dalmatian Pelicans, a favourite subject among photographers worldwide. I captured this image while leaning over the side of a boat, keeping my camera away from the surface of the water, whist watching the Dalmatian pelicans slowly get closer and closer to the boat in anticipation of a fish from the boatman – the fish are considered low quality and unsuitable for sale, and are instead thrown back to the local wildlife.”

#2. 2nd Place: “Great Grey Owl Encounter” by Maggie Bullock

“This shot of a Great Grey Owl was taken in Finland, near Kuusamo. A pair of Owls were present in the surrounding trees and this particular Owl swooped down from a nearby tree heading almost directly towards me. On a narrow path I squatted down to get as low as possible and used an open aperture and fast shutter speed to capture the motion and frame the Owl against the snowy background; aiming to show the majesty of this amazing bird.”