25 Of The Best Bird Photos From The 2026 BirdLife Australia Photography Awards

I live alongside the Royal National Park, and also alongside a large, rowdy flock of Sulphur-crested Cockatoos. As our house is made of wood, I try to keep them away (because they eat it!), but occasionally one or two polite young fellas will perch on a railing to relax, preen and watch the world go by – and if they’re well-mannered, I’m happy to have them. On this particular day, it had been raining on and off and this youngster came to the railing for a little quiet time. I stood in the doorway to snap this image just as the cockie was straightening up after shaking himself, and for a moment his crest stood up like a crown – reminding me that even though these regal birds are common, they’re definitely not commoners.

(Canon 1Dx Mk 2, 1/800 sec, f/5.6, ISO 1600 with Canon EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM at 400mm)

Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Gymea Bay, NSW

Instagram: @faunographic

A group of King Penguins glide by beneath the surface, the lush green slopes of Macquarie Island visible in the background. On land, where we usually get to see penguins, they are awkward and clumsy and so I wanted to capture the Kings of Macquarie where nature has designed them to be - flying through the ocean, swift and graceful. I captured this image by holding my camera (in an underwater housing) over the side of a small inflatable boat.

(Sony Alpha 7 IV, 1/640 sec, f/8, ISO 6400 with Sony FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS at 16mm)

King Penguin, Lusitania Bay, Macquarie Island

Instagram: @Wild_Lachie

After a nature walk around O'Reilly's with my camera, I was sitting at the café when a Crimson Rosella landed on a nearby table. To my surprise, It grabbed a sugar packet, tore it open, and started emptying it while making direct eye contact with me. The moment was both funny and unsettling. While the scene is comical, it’s a reminder of the harm caused by feeding wildlife. Birds like this can become too comfortable around people and reliant on food that isn’t good for them. Thankfully, the bird was quickly interrupted in its sugar heist by the waitstaff clearing the table.

(Canon R6 Mk II, 1/200 sec, f/5, ISO 400 with Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM at 151mm)

Crimson Rosella, O'Reilly's Rainforest Retreat, Canungra, Qld

Instagram: @kmfacey

While camping in Queensland, I noticed an opportunistic Brush Turkey foraging for food in the rubbish bin.

(Canon 5D Mk IV, 1/200 sec, f/8, ISO 400 with Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS II USM at 105mm)

Australian Brush-turkey, Elanda Point, Qld

Instagram: @emmaperryphoto

Attracted by cobwebs on an old shed window, these two curious Pardolotes stopped to investigate — and seemed just as interested in what was happening inside. Photographed through the weathered glass from within the shed, their cheeky expressions create a cute reversal: the birds appear to be watching the people inside, while I was watching them.

(Canon R5, 1/1250 sec, f/5, ISO 800 with Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM at 238mm)

Striated Pardolote, Bredbo, NSW

Instagram: @shazziemarks

As part of my volunteer work for BirdLife Australia I have monitored this Caspian Tern colony over several years. Often they nest in a very exposed area on a sand spit and the nests and chicks are destroyed by a weather events in conjunction with tidal surges. After such an event this is what I found in the area of the colony. This mature chick was hiding and totally camouflaged by a covering of sand. To be clear this is not a nest as Caspian Tern chicks are semi precocial, being active and mobile after hatching but still being fed by their parents.

(Nikon Z9, 1/2000 sec, f/6.3, ISO 900 with Nikkor Z 400mm f/4.5 VR S+ 1.4x teleconverter)

Caspian Tern, Vic

Instagram: @markslethlean

Endangered fairy terns return each summer to breed on a popular Mandurah beach, surviving in an unlikely location between a carpark and a rock groyne. Amidst the ruckus of the busy colony, fairy tern chicks can identify their parents by their calls although that doesn't stop them from begging food from any adult that flies by with a tasty morsel. In this instance this hungry chick had to wait a bit longer, as that fish was destined for another.

(Canon R5, 1/1250 sec, f/13, ISO 400 with Canon EF400mm f/2.8L IS III USM +1.4x Mk III teleconverter)

Fairy Tern, Mandurah, WA

Instagram: sharonjones_wildlifephoto

Facebook: sharonjoneswildlifephotography

While Superb Lyrebirds are famous for their mating displays which can be observed in winter months throughout the wet forests of Southeastern Australia, the actual copulation was captured only a handful of times and to my knowledge majority of those captures were done on video. I feel that I was very lucky to document this very special scene in photographs and wanted to share the experience with a wider audience. This shot is of the part of the ritual dance preluding the copulation. The female arrived at the mound, and the male covered her with his tail and is dancing around her, singing and trying to win her over.

(Panasonic Lumix S1R, 1/320 sec, f/1.8, ISO 1000 with Sigma 135 f/1.8 DG HSM)

Superb Lyrebird, Dandenong Ranges National Park, Vic

Instagram: @akdelmar

A female Gang Gang Cockatoo playing with a park tap trying to get more water flowing. Cockatoos are very smart birds that also like to play and explore. This photo encapsulates why many people are drawn to Cockatoos, showing off their adaptation to urban life as well as their cheeky and inquisitive nature.

(Nikon Z9, 1/1000 sec, f/6.3, ISO 8000 with Nikkor Z 600mm f/6.3 VR S)

Gang-gang Cockatoo, Coorangbong, NSW

Instagram: @markdorophotography

I had known this Peregrine Falcon fo a long time. I used to observe it regularly, always staying beneath the cliffs, just out of sight. There was a small opening at the top where I could look down. I kept returning, again and again, waiting for the moment when the falcon would finally land there and I could capture my dream shot. After 18 visits, that moment finally came. The falcon landed exactly where I had hoped, if only for a few seconds. But a few seconds were all I needed. 18 visits. Countless hours of waiting. One unforgettable moment.

(Canon 5D Mk IV, 1/400 sec, f/7.1, ISO 1250 with Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM +1.4x Mk III teleconverter)

Peregrine Falcon, Malabar Headland National Park, Malabar , NSW

Instagram: @shuvo.earth

Facebook: Shuvo Rahman

A Royal Penguin pair share a quiet moment of connection through mutual preening. This gentle behaviour is the penguin equivalent of a kiss, a display of affection and bonding between partners. Their tender interaction offers a glimpse of the social bonds that these remarkable birds have.

(Canon R5, 1/6400 sec, f/5.6, ISO 6400 with Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM at 200mm)

Royal Penguin, Sandy Bay, Macquarie Island

There was a colony of Fairy Terns on the beach but I wasn't sure what to expect by way of photos so I decided to wait and observe their behaviour first. I noticed the birds were flying near a rock groyne, dipping in and then emerging, twisting and turning in the golden late afternoon light. The groyne provided a fantastic backdrop as it was in shade and dark. When the terns twisted and turned in flight they sprayed water from their beaks and wings in a "shake off" and as the sun was setting it illuminated the water droplets giving them a golden glisten, whilst backlighting the bird.

(Canon R5, 1/3200 sec, f/8, ISO 2500 with Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM at 500mm)

Fairy Tern, Mandurah Pyramids Beach, WA

Instagram: louie.owen

I watched this male Great Bowerbird for hours fastidiously arranging the sticks and artifacts around his bower. In addition to splaying his purple crest, he fancied this green plastic leg from a GI Joe doll. And what do you know? Through she came to complete the courtship.

(Nikon D810, 1/800 sec, f/6.3, ISO 1000 with Sigma 150-600mm f/5.0-6.3)

Great Bowerbird, Pine Creek, NT

Instagram: @markslethlean

I love this shot of a Tawny Frogmouth because firstly, they're such cool and unique birds with a funky personality. I also love how the perch it's sitting on almost frames the bird and has an interesting spiral shape. And I love how the shot shows the habitat around the bird, reminding me what it was like in the area. Also Tawny Frogmouths are usually perched rather high up so it was super cool finding this one perched at eye level, allowing me to have a cleaner background and better view angle to the shot.

(Sony Alpha 7 IV, 1/400 sec, f/6.3, ISO 2500 with Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS at 200mm)

Tawny Frogmouth, Port Macquarie, NSW

Instagram: @micahboyce_photography

These images explore the intricacies of life for King Penguins on Macquarie Island. Taken across multiple years while visiting the island as an expedition guide, I aimed to capture the diversity of behaviours, individual personalities and perspectives that exist within the colony. Together, the images offer a glimpse into the complexity of life here, where growth, survival and loss occur simultaneously, and on a remarkable scale. All unfolding on a remote oceanic island in the middle of the harsh Southern Ocean. Viewed through today’s lens, they also carry a sense of fragility. I can only hope that this wild, dynamic community that has overcome so much already, can continue to persevere and thrive for generations to come.

Minutes before sunrise, at the edge of the Brisbane River, I came across this peaceful scene. I was drawn to the slow, almost meditative movements of this lone pelican as it preened itself. The accidental geometry of the repeating triangle shapes and the way the light filtered through the trees brought this image together for me.

(Canon R5, 1/3200 sec, f/8, ISO 2500 with Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM at 472mm)

Australian Pelican, Chuwar, Qld

Instagram: @janeyliz_photography

While wandering back to my car after photographing some waders, I took this opportunistic shot of a male Zebra Finch. I like the image because the bird and perch are in sharp focus and the background colour is complementary.

(Canon 7D Mk II, 1/400 sec, f/10, ISO 250 with Canon EF 400mm f/4 DO IS II USM +1.4x Mk3 teleconverter)

Zebra Finch, Western Treatment Plant, Vic

Instagram: @steves_birds

I had been watching a group of Ruddy Turnstones feeding on in the wash area of the rock platform. Occasionally a large swell would wash over the area they were feeding at and cause them to take flight. This bird had taken flight and was now gliding back looking for a safer place to feed.

(Canon 1D X Mk III, 1/2500 sec, f/7.1, ISO 640 with Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM +1.4x Mk III teleconverter)

Ruddy Turnstone, Sydney, NSW

A Sooty Tern glides past me on a stunningly-beautiful afternoon. I had spent many hours, over the space of a week, photographing these graceful birds flying around me as I sat on the sand. On this particular afternoon, the lighting was sublime. The colour of the ocean glistened aqua in colour, while the sand was a gorgeous peach-gold colour. I used a slower shutter speed (using ND filters) and once I focused on the tern, I panned with it as it was flying past the beautiful colours of the sea and sand.

(Nikon Z9, 1/25 sec, f/6.3, ISO 100 with 180-600mm lens at 310mm)

Sooty Tern, Lord Howe Island, Lord Howe Island

Instagram: Michael_Snedics_Wildnature

Before sunrise, a flock of corellas rested silently on the bare trees along the riverbank. In an instant, the stillness was broken as they burst into flight, creating a dramatic display of movement and sound. I quickly adjusted my camera settings and used a slower shutter speed to capture the fleeting motion - like a gentle breeze moving through spring flowers.

(Sony Alpha 7R V, 1/30 sec, f/8, ISO 1000 with Sony FE 400-800mm F6.3-8 G OSS at 594mm)

Corella, Bendigo, Vic

Instagram: @Cheng_215

The Fairy Tern is a seasonal visitor to a beach close to my home. I spent many hours over the last two summers observing this species from a distance, always laying low and making sure I am outside the nesting zone fences that are put up to protect them. The more time I spend with them, the more they continue to fascinate me. I wanted to document as many behaviours as I could, at different stages of the seasons starting from the beginning of the breeding, through nesting season and right up to their migration. I enjoy capturing little snippets of the lives of these birds, as most people don't get a chance to see it for themselves or don't pay attention to the details. I watched people reading the signs that were put up around the nesting zones but also saw some completely miss the signs or disregard them and ultimately disturb the birds outside the fencing by walking too closely or straight through the active nests. It's why I take pride in taking images like these, as they become a way for me to start conversations with people, in an effort to spread awareness of our vulnerable and endangered wildlife.

I have often seen Cormorants and Pelicans "fishing together". I'd always thought there was something cooperative about it. Recently I saw that it was a bit darker than that. The pelicans were shadowing the cormorants, ready to pounce the moment a cormorant came up with a fish, grabbing the cormorant by the throat in an attempt to stop it swallowing the fish and having to instead cough it up into the waiting mouth of the pelican. The behavior reminded me of how people in China and Japan have used cormorants for fishing in a similar way for over a thousand years. No doubt the pelicans thought of it first. I liked this particular shot because it shows the precise moment the pelican latches on to the Cormorant's throat with mouth inflated, too late in this instance, as the cormorant had already got the fish far enough down to get away with it. From a technical aspect, I used a small aperture to keep an much of both birds in focus.

(Nikon Z8, 1/2000 sec, f/11, ISO 800 with Nikkor Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR at 600mm)

Australian Pelican and Great Cormorant, Cullendulla Nature Reserve, Batemans Bay, NSW

Instagram: @gmwyncoll

During a glorious walk around the beach, I was taking some photos of the sun setting. There is a family of Silver Gulls that typically come in for the night at that time, but still squabble and steal food for hours. One of the adult Gulls perched on a fence post, only for it to be taken and hogged by another. After a few minutes of arguing, the Gull that stole the spot remained on it, seeming victorious. Little did it know that another one was lining itself up to divebomb them.

(Canon 200D Mk II, 1/4000 sec, f/5.6, ISO 100 with Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS at 163mm)

Silver Gull, Williamstown, Vic

I was sitting on the lounge in my friend's high rise apartment and the bird landed on the balcony railing. I don't think he would have been so close to me if the blind hadn't been pulled down.

(iPhone 14, 1/121 sec, f/1.5, ISO 40 with 5.7mm)

Australian Raven, Newcastle, NSW

Two Australian Black Swans in some sort of graceful song and dance of disagreement. It seemed like a gentle warning to not approach too close to their partner and cygnets nearby. I'm not sure what was said between them, but a peaceful resolution was the result and the visitor retreated. I took this on the final (late) afternoon of a bird photography workshop. The fabulous instructor was encouraging us to play and overexpose the images and this was the result. I like the shape of the swans, that heart they make with their long necks, and the eye contact with the camera from the bird on the right.

(Canon R7, 1/125 sec, f/7.1, ISO 800 with Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II + 1.4x Mk3 teleconverter at 379mm)

Australian Black Swan, Tamar Island Wetlands, Launceston, Tas

Instagram: @reenimartinezphotography