55 Best Bird Photos Of 2017 Have Been Announced, And They’re Truly Amazing

Birds are a secretive and mysterious species, which makes them one of the hardest to photograph. The British Trust for Ornithology, however, is taking time to appreciate photographers around the world who have mastered the art of capturing the quiet, gentle beauty of birds, and they've just announced their winners for 2017.

The Bird Photographer of the Year competition was initiated in 2015, and reportedly received a flood of entries right away. According to BTO Chief Executive Andy Clements, its aim is "to celebrate the artistry of bird photography and aid conservation by supporting the valuable work carried out by the BTO.” A cash prize of £5,000 (~$6,500 USD) is awarded to the top entry, with smaller amounts of cash, equipment, and merchandise being doled out to the others. This year's victor? Alejandro Prieto Rojas from Mexico, who submitted a stunning portrait of flamingo feeding their young.

A selection of the winning and short-listed entries are also chosen by the BTO to feature in a special large-format photobook. The 2017 edition is available now, and partial profits from its sales will directly support the BTO's bird conservation efforts. Scroll down to see some of the most incredible bird photos you might ever lay eyes on, and share this post with the bird-lover in your life.

More info: Bird Photographer of the Year Awards Book: BTO

#1 The Battle By Jose Garcia, US. Bird Behaviour Category

The Battle By Jose Garcia, US. Bird Behaviour Category

Jose Garcia / 2017 Bird Photographer of the Year Awards Report

Final score:

478points

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#1 The Battle By Jose Garcia, US. Bird Behaviour Category

#2 Barn Owl Hovering By Roy Rimmer, UK. Bird Behaviour Category

#3 Blue Tit On Berries By Markus Varesvuo, Helsinki, Finland. Winner Of Best Portfolio 2017 Category

#4 2017 Bird Photographer Of The Year Cover

#5 Full Speed By Faisal Alnomas, Kuwait. Bird Behaviour Category

#6 Goosander And Brood By Jonathan Gaunt, UK. Bird Behaviour Category

#7 Catch Of The Day By Vince Burton, UK. Winner Of The Nature Photographers Ltd People’s Choice Award Category

#8 Albatross Eye Close-up By Jessica Winter, Bronze In Attention To Detail Category

#9 Grey Heron, Ahmad Al-essa, Kuwait. Silver Award Winner In The Attention To Detail Category

#10 Bearded Sunset By Markus Varesvuo, Helsinki, Finland. Winner In Best Portfolio Category And Honourable Mention For Best Portrait Category

#11 The Speculum By Georgina Steytler. Australia. Gold Award Winner In The Creative Imagery Category

#12 Twilight By Markus Varesvuo, Kuusamo, Finland. Best Portfolio Winner In The Creative Imagery Category

#13 Daily Basket By Ionel Onofras, Romania. Best Portrait Category

#14 Snuggling Cygnet By Ben Andrew. Honourable Mention In Attention To Detail Category

#15 I Lost My Mom, Common Kingfisher By Fahad Al-enezi, Spain. Bird Behaviour Category

#16 Snowy Owl By Markus Varesvuo, Helsinki, Finland. Winner Of Best Portfolio 2017 Category

#17 Woodpecker In Car Mirror By Kelvin Dao. Honourable Mention In Birds In The Garden Category

#18 Pink Flamingo Feeding Their Young By Alejandro Prieto Rojas, Mexico. Gold Award And Bird Photographer Of The Year 2017 Winner In The Best Portrait Category

#19 Great Snipe Silhouette By Torsten Green-Petersen. Honourable Mention In Bird Behaviour Category

#20 Wide-angle Kite, Red Kite By Jamie Hall, United Kingdom. Birds In Flight Category

#21 A Perfect Landing, Australian Pelican By Bret Charman, Australia. Gold Award Winner In Birds In Flight Category

#22 Blackbird Taking Berries By Roy Rimmer. Honourable Mention In Birds In The Garden Category

#23 Breakfast, Great Egret By Cheryl Schneider, Usa. Attention To Detail Category

#24 Seagulls And Fox By Gabor Kapus. Honourable Mention In Birds In Flight Category

#25 Swimming Eider By Pål Hermansen. Bronze In Best Portrait Category

#26 Guillemot Stretching Wing By Marc Weber. Silver In Best Portrait Category

#27 All In Yellow, Blue-headed Wagtail By Robert Szafranek, Poland. Birds In The Environment Category

#28 Camouflage By Daniel Stenberg, Sweden. Honourable Mention In Birds In The Environment Category

#29 Swallow Chicks In Nest By Joseph Anthony. Honourable Mention In Creative Imagery Category

#30 Pelican Portrait By Anna-mart Kruger, Namibia. Best Portrait Category

#31 Male King Eider By Staffan Widstrand. Honourable Mention In Best Portrait Category

#32 Bravery, Pied Crow And White-backed Vulture By Bence Máté, Hungary. Bird Behaviour Category

#33 Starling In Bird Bath Underexposed By Mohammad Murad. Silver In Birds In The Garden Category

#34 Crane Flock Misty Lake By Piotr Chara. Silver In Birds In The Environment Category

#35 Andean Condor In Flight Over Mountain Peaks By Ben Hall, Uk. Gold Award Winner In The Birds In The Environment Category

#36 Wing Formation By Tom Hines, Uk. Gold Award Winner In The Attention To Detail Category

#37 Little Grebe Taking Off By Faisal Alnomas. Honourable Mention In Bird Behaviour Category

#38 Diving Kingfisher By Malek Alhazzaa. Silver In Bird Behaviour Category

#39 Condor Light Rays By John Sherman. Bhonourable Mention In The Environment Category

#40 David Versus Goliath By Bruno De Lorenzo, Hungary. Bird Behaviour Category

#41 Whooper Swans In Snow By Wim Van Den Heever. Bronze In Creative Imagery Category

#42 Stork Feet By Magdaléna Straková. Honourable Mention In Attention To Detail Category

#43 Orhard Nuthatch By Charles Tyler, United Kingdom. Birds In The Garden Category

#44 Barn Owl Hunting By House By Jamie Hall, Suffolk, England. Gold Award Winner In The Birds In The Garden Category

#45 Blurred Bird Flock By Marc Weber. Bronze In Birds In The Environment Category

#46 Swan's Head Underwater By Ian Wade. Bronze In Bird Behaviour Category

#47 Ptarmigan By Markus Varesvuo. Bronze In Birds In Flight Category

#48 Coots Fighting By Andrew Parkinson, Derbyshire, Uk. Gold Award Winner In The Bird Behaviour Category

#49 Willow Grouse By Markus Varesvuo, Helsinki, Finland. Winner Of Best Portfolio 2017 Category

#50 Willow Grouse In The Garden By Markus Varesvuo. Honourable Mention In Birds In The Garden Category

#51 Gannet Underwater By Markus Varesvuo, Helsinki, Finland. Winner Of Best Portfolio 2017 Category

#52 Leaping Heron By Georgina Steytler. Honourable Mention In Birds In Flight Category

#53 Calling For The Sun By Ondrej Pelanek, Czech Republic. Gold Award Winner In Young Bird Photographer Of The Year Category

#54 Male And Female Mallard By Francesco De Giuseppe. Silver In Creative Imagery Category

#55 Willow Grouse In Storm By Markus Varesvuo, Helsinki, Finland. Winner Of Best Portfolio 2017 Category

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