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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!

#1

Highly Commended: 'Rainbow Ballet' By Christian Spencer

Highly Commended: 'Rainbow Ballet' By Christian Spencer

Christian Spencer Report

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    #2

    Attention To Detail: First Place, By Moshe Cohen

    Attention To Detail: First Place, By Moshe Cohen

    Moshe Cohen Report

    Malakai
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    There is no owl here, only trees

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    #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.

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    #4

    Birds In Flight: Third Place, By Shu Qing

    Birds In Flight: Third Place, By Shu Qing

    Shu Qing Report

    #5

    Black And White: First Place, By Robert Sommer

    Black And White: First Place, By Robert Sommer

    Robert Sommer Report

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    #6

    Black And White: Second Place, By Daniel Stenberg

    Black And White: Second Place, By Daniel Stenberg

    Daniel Stenberg Report

    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.

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    #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

    Raine Soo
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created 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

    Laila Hernandez
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I see double, even triple if something if the thing is too close.

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    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

    Elsker
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    very dreamy... wonder what the bird is thinking:)

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    #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

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    #14

    Highly Commended: 'Spot The Bird' By Swayamsiddha Mohapatra

    Highly Commended: 'Spot The Bird' By Swayamsiddha Mohapatra

    Swayamsiddha Mohapatra Report

    #15

    Birds In Flight: Second Place, By Nikos Fokas

    Birds In Flight: Second Place, By Nikos Fokas

    Nikos Fokas 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

    #19

    Best Portrait: Third Place, By Terje Kolaas

    Best Portrait: Third Place, By Terje Kolaas

    Terje Kolaas 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

    Perfumista Perfumista
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Wonder if there is someone with the job of removing them

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    #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

    Avery S Alberico
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    "WHEEEEEE!" "Stop it, Kevin, you are so unprofessional."

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    #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

    Kevin Donegan
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Now, that's quit a big spider he has!

    #29

    Birds In The Environment: Third Place, By Swayamsiddha Mohapatra

    Birds In The Environment: Third Place, By Swayamsiddha Mohapatra

    Swayamsiddha Mohapatra 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

    #31

    Highly Commended: 'Reflections' By Jian Huang

    Highly Commended: 'Reflections' By Jian Huang

    Jian Huang Report

    Carole Deem
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created 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

    #36

    Highly Commended: 'Torda' By Jean-Marie Ville

    Highly Commended: 'Torda' By Jean-Marie Ville

    Jean-Marie Ville Report

    #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

    Robin DJW
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The composition and palette are exceptional.

    #39

    Highly Commended: 'Golden Grass Storks' By Johannes Rydström

    Highly Commended: 'Golden Grass Storks' By Johannes Rydström

    Johannes Rydström Report

    #40

    Highly Commended: 'Snake Bird' By Wanchanok Suvarnakara

    Highly Commended: 'Snake Bird' By Wanchanok Suvarnakara

    Wanchanok Suvarnakara Report

    #41

    Garden And Urban Birds: Second Place, By Kiko Arcas

    Garden And Urban Birds: Second Place, By Kiko Arcas

    Kiko Arcas Report

    Carole Deem
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created 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

    #43

    Highly Commended: 'Stealing Back' By David Pattyn

    Highly Commended: 'Stealing Back' By David Pattyn

    David Pattyn Report

    #44

    Highly Commended: 'Dipper Swimming Underwater' By Conrad Dickinson

    Highly Commended: 'Dipper Swimming Underwater' By Conrad Dickinson

    Conrad Dickinson Report

    #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

    #47

    Garden And Urban Birds: First Place, By Magdaléna Straková

    Garden And Urban Birds: First Place, By Magdaléna Straková

    Magdaléna Straková Report

    #48

    Highly Commended: 'Cygnus' By Rachel Piper

    Highly Commended: 'Cygnus' By Rachel Piper

    Rachel Piper Report

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