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Birds are some of the most majestic animals on the planet. While some can be total derps, according to any internet image search, for the most part, they are graceful creatures. Everything from the way they look to the way they rest on branches, stroll on the ground, and, of course, soar through the air screams majesty.

The annual Bird Photographer of the Year Contest aims to celebrate this. Recently, it has announced the winners of this year’s competition and showed off some of the most breathtaking photos of birds that this year’s contestants were able to snap.

Bored Panda compiled a list of this year’s Bird Photographer of the Year contest winners for you to enjoy below. While you’re scrolling through the list, don’t forget to vote and comment on the ones you enjoyed the most!

#2

Attention To Detail: First Place, By Moshe Cohen

Attention To Detail: First Place, By Moshe Cohen

Moshe Cohen Report

#3

Attention To Detail: Second Place, By Mathias Putze

Attention To Detail: Second Place, By Mathias Putze

Mathias Putze Report

Bird Photographer Of The Year is hosted by Birds On The Brink, a grant-awarding charity that supports bird conservation efforts around the world. This is their 5th year hosting the competition.

The contest was split into a number of categories, among which are Best Portfolio, Attention to Detail, Best Portrait, Bird Behavior, Birds in the Environment, Birds in Flight, Black and White, Creative Imagery, Garden and Urban Birds, and others.

#5

Black And White: First Place, By Robert Sommer

Black And White: First Place, By Robert Sommer

Robert Sommer Report

#6

Black And White: Second Place, By Daniel Stenberg

Black And White: Second Place, By Daniel Stenberg

Daniel Stenberg Report

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The grand prize went to Majed Alza’abi from Norway for his “End of the Day” photograph of a European Shag:

“I took this shot in April 2019 while on a visit to the famous Norwegian seabird island of Vardø, a location packed full of birds that provide endless opportunities for photography. There are a lot of opportunities for creative composition, playing with foreground and background; here I like the out-of-focus shag framing the in-focus individual, plus the bokeh of the sea as sunset approached. By experimenting, I aimed to create artistic and impressionistic shots of shags, and I hope I achieved my goal with this image,” elaborated Majed.

#7

Highly Commended: 'Underwater Check' By Greg Lecoeur

Highly Commended: 'Underwater Check' By Greg Lecoeur

Greg Lecoeur Report

#8

Creative Imagery: Third Place, By Chengbo Sun

Creative Imagery: Third Place, By Chengbo Sun

Chengbo Sun Report

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Raine Soo
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This photo is hauntingly beautiful. The colours are muted, but I can't stop staring at it.

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#9

Young Bird Photographer Of The Year: First Place, 'Seeing Double' By Adam Lake

Young Bird Photographer Of The Year: First Place, 'Seeing Double' By Adam Lake

Adam Lake Report

Check out the remainder of the photos by scrolling the list below. And if this isn’t enough, why not check out last year’s list? And if you haven’t had your fill of birds, why not give this list of realistic-looking embroidery from a bird’s-eye perspective a go!

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#10

Birds In The Environment: Second Place, By Pål Hermansen

Birds In The Environment: Second Place, By Pål Hermansen

Pål Hermansen Report

#11

Highly Commended: 'Tranquil Morning' By Guang Hua Chen

Highly Commended: 'Tranquil Morning' By Guang Hua Chen

Guang Hua Chen Report

#12

Attention To Detail: Third Place, By Francis De Andrés

Attention To Detail: Third Place, By Francis De Andrés

Francis De Andrés Report

#13

Birds In Flight: First Place, By Gadi Shmila

Birds In Flight: First Place, By Gadi Shmila

Gadi Shmila Report

#14

Highly Commended: 'Spot The Bird' By Swayamsiddha Mohapatra

Highly Commended: 'Spot The Bird' By Swayamsiddha Mohapatra

Swayamsiddha Mohapatra Report

#16

Highly Commended: 'Medusa!' By Richard Flack

Highly Commended: 'Medusa!' By Richard Flack

Richard Flack Report

#17

Highly Commended: 'Reign Forest' By Adam Stunkel

Highly Commended: 'Reign Forest' By Adam Stunkel

Adam Stunkel Report

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#18

Highly Commended: 'Buzz Kill' By Shuvam Nath

Highly Commended: 'Buzz Kill' By Shuvam Nath

Shuvam Nath Report

#20

Bird Behaviour: First Place, By Roelof Molenaar

Bird Behaviour: First Place, By Roelof Molenaar

Roelof Molenaar Report

#21

Garden And Urban Birds: Third Place, By Carlos Cifuentes

Garden And Urban Birds: Third Place, By Carlos Cifuentes

Carlos Cifuentes Report

#22

Highly Commended: 'Night Watch' By Gideon Knight

Highly Commended: 'Night Watch' By Gideon Knight

Gideon Knight Report

#23

Highly Commended: 'Lady Phalarope' By Tim Hopwood

Highly Commended: 'Lady Phalarope' By Tim Hopwood

Tim Hopwood Report

#24

Highly Commended: 'Trails At Dusk' By Kathryn Cooper

Highly Commended: 'Trails At Dusk' By Kathryn Cooper

Kathryn Cooper Report

#25

Birds In The Environment: First Place, By Francesco Filippo Pellegrini

Birds In The Environment: First Place, By Francesco Filippo Pellegrini

Iguazu Falls are one of the most amazing part of our planet. The valley is filled rainbow caused by the vapor of the falls. This is where the swifts of the falls found their perfect habitat. Thousands of those unique birds breed inside these powerful and amazing falls.

Francesco Filippo Pellegrini Report

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#26

Best Portrait: Second Place, By Greg Lecoeur

Best Portrait: Second Place, By Greg Lecoeur

Greg Lecoeur Report

#27

Bird Behaviour: Second Place, By Greg Lecoeur

Bird Behaviour: Second Place, By Greg Lecoeur

Greg Lecoeur Report

#28

Black And White: Third Place, By Juan Pablo Plaza Pozo

Black And White: Third Place, By Juan Pablo Plaza Pozo

Juan Pablo Plaza Pozo Report

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#30

Young Bird Photographer Of The Year: Third Place, 'Asian Green Bee-Eater Pair' By Deeksha Diya Sambath

Young Bird Photographer Of The Year: Third Place, 'Asian Green Bee-Eater Pair' By Deeksha Diya Sambath

Deeksha Diya Sambath Report

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#31

Highly Commended: 'Reflections' By Jian Huang

Highly Commended: 'Reflections' By Jian Huang

Jian Huang Report

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Carole Deem
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Can't you just see it as a ballerina. Perfect pose and poise

#32

Highly Commended: 'Penguin Parliament' By Russell Millner

Highly Commended: 'Penguin Parliament' By Russell Millner

Russell Millner Report

#33

Creative Imagery: Second Place, By Terje Kolaas

Creative Imagery: Second Place, By Terje Kolaas

Terje Kolaas Report

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#34

Highly Commended: 'Lotus Of Life' By Min Ying

Highly Commended: 'Lotus Of Life' By Min Ying

Min Ying Report

#35

Highly Commended: 'Green Beauty' By Andy Rouse

Highly Commended: 'Green Beauty' By Andy Rouse

Andy Rouse Report

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#36

Highly Commended: 'Torda' By Jean-Marie Ville

Highly Commended: 'Torda' By Jean-Marie Ville

Jean-Marie Ville Report

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#37

Young Bird Photographer Of The Year: Second Place, 'Back-Lighting' By Ismael Domínguez Gutiérrez

Young Bird Photographer Of The Year: Second Place, 'Back-Lighting' By Ismael Domínguez Gutiérrez

Ismael Domínguez Gutiérrez Report

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#38

Highly Commended: 'Forest Of Dreams' By Samuel Bloch

Highly Commended: 'Forest Of Dreams' By Samuel Bloch

Samuel Bloch Report

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#39

Highly Commended: 'Golden Grass Storks' By Johannes Rydström

Highly Commended: 'Golden Grass Storks' By Johannes Rydström

Johannes Rydström Report

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#40

Highly Commended: 'Snake Bird' By Wanchanok Suvarnakara

Highly Commended: 'Snake Bird' By Wanchanok Suvarnakara

Wanchanok Suvarnakara Report

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#41

Garden And Urban Birds: Second Place, By Kiko Arcas

Garden And Urban Birds: Second Place, By Kiko Arcas

Kiko Arcas Report

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Carole Deem
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

they are going to be in big trouble if that ship ever drops anchor

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#42

Best Portrait: First Place, 'End Of The Day', Vardø, Norway By Majed Alza’abi

Best Portrait: First Place, 'End Of The Day', Vardø, Norway By Majed Alza’abi

Majed Alza’abi Report

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#44

Highly Commended: 'Dipper Swimming Underwater' By Conrad Dickinson

Highly Commended: 'Dipper Swimming Underwater' By Conrad Dickinson

Conrad Dickinson Report

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#45

Highly Commended: 'Detail Grey Heron' By Daniel Stenberg

Highly Commended: 'Detail Grey Heron' By Daniel Stenberg

Daniel Stenberg Report

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#46

Creative Imagery: First Place, By James Hudson

Creative Imagery: First Place, By James Hudson

James Hudson Report

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#47

Garden And Urban Birds: First Place, By Magdaléna Straková

Garden And Urban Birds: First Place, By Magdaléna Straková

Magdaléna Straková Report

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#48

Highly Commended: 'Cygnus' By Rachel Piper

Highly Commended: 'Cygnus' By Rachel Piper

Rachel Piper Report

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