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Bored Panda

Raquel Teixeira

These 54 Bird Pictures Were The Best At The 2025 And 2026 Audubon Photography Awards

Chile Colombia California Canada United States

Photographing birds is no easy task. They can be unpredictable, constantly on the move, and often disappear just as quickly as they appear. Capturing a truly remarkable image takes patience, timing, and sometimes a little luck.

That’s part of what makes the images featured in the Audubon Photography Awards so impressive. Now in its 17th year, the competition celebrates photographers and videographers who capture the beauty and behavior of birds while highlighting the habitats and environments they depend on. The 2025 and 2026 editions also mark an important expansion, with photographers from Chile and Colombia joining those from the U.S. and Canada.

Explore the winners and honorable mentions of the 2025 and 2026 Audubon Photography Awards, and discover more about the competition and how it supports the mission of the National Audubon Society.

#1 Coastal Birds Of Chile, 2026 Winner: Gonzalo Bertolotto Quintana

Species: Gentoo Penguin Location of the photo: Fildes Bay, Antarctica, in the vicinity of the Chilean bases

To learn more about the competition, Bored Panda reached out to Megan Moriarty, the Communications Manager at the National Audubon Society, who connected us with Sabine Meyer, Photography Director at the National Audubon Society. She kindly shared her insights and perspective on the contest.

#2 Grand Prize, U.S. & Canada, 2026 Winner: Jacqueline Burke

Species: Roseate Spoonbill Location of the photo: St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park, St. Augustine, Florida, USA

#3 Plants For Birds, 2026 Winner: Mike Henry

Species: Gila Woodpecker and saguaro cactus Location of the photo: Tucson, Arizona, USA

When asked about the motivation behind starting the Photography Awards and how they relate to the mission of the National Audubon Society, Sabine shared with us that: “The Audubon Photography Awards are more than just a collection of breathtaking photos: over the years, it has matured into a platform to share the love of birds with our members. This has helped us grow and cultivate a community of conservation photographers, from budding teens to amateurs to professionals. With the addition last year of Conservation and Birds Without Borders prizes, the awards have also become a critical tool to advance Audubon's conservation mission and initiatives.”

#4 Conservation Chile And Colombia, 2025 Winner: Luis Alberto Peña

Species: Savanna Hawk Location: Cúcuta, Norte de Santander, Colombia

#5 Birds In Landscapes, Chile, 2026 Winner: Timothy Dhalleine

Species: Crested Caracara Location of the photo: Torres del Paine National Park, Magallanes and Chilean Antarctic region, Chile

With thousands of submissions received each year (and participation continuing to grow), the competition brings together “talented photographers and videographers across the hemisphere,” Sabine noted. She described the growing response as particularly inspiring. As she explained, 2026 marks the second year judges have awarded prizes to residents of Chile and Colombia, alongside photographers from the United States and Canada, as part of their mission: “Our work follows birds across the hemisphere, and so do our photo and video awards!”

#6 Birds Without Borders, 2026 Winner: Rodrigo González Pairoa

Species: Black-browed Albatross Location of the photo: Almirantazgo Fjord, Chile

#7 Birds Without Borders, 2026 Honorable Mention: Rubén Barraza

Species: Spectacled Tyrant Location of the photo: Elqui River Wetland, La Serena, Coquimbo Region, Chile

To better understand the significance of Chile and Colombia being included as eligible countries for the Audubon Photography Awards Competition, Sabine redirected us to statements from two Audubon members: Javiera Ferreyra (Chile Country Director) and Camilo Cardozo (Colombia Country Director). They stated that the expansion helps “encourage more diverse perspectives, enriching the visual narrative of bird conservation.”

#8 Plants For Birds, 2025 Winner: Barbara Swanson

Species: Brandt's Cormorant, red grape algae and seagrass Location: La Jolla, California, United States

#9 Youth, 2025 Honorable Mention: Jake Hillygus

Species: Common Ravens Location: Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, California, United States

The awards also highlight the importance of migratory birds and the habitats they depend on. This is particularly relevant for Chile and Colombia, two countries with incredible bird diversity and important habitats for migratory species. Colombia is home to almost 20 percent of the world’s avian species, while hundreds of thousands of migratory shorebirds pass through Chile each year.

#10 Coastal Birds Of Chile, 2026 Honorable Mention: Marcelo Cárcamo Vera

Species: Red-legged Cormorant Location of the photo: Pilolcura, Valdivia, Los Ríos region, Chile

#11 Youth, 2025 Winner: Parham Pourahmad

Species: Long-eared Owl Location: Coyote Hills Regional Park, Fremont, California, United States

Together, the growing reach of the Audubon Photography Awards reflects how photography can connect people and places across the Western Hemisphere, celebrate the remarkable diversity of birdlife, and inspire deeper appreciation for the species and habitats that need protection.

#12 Birds In Landscapes Chile, 2025 Winner: Caro Aravena Costa

Species: Chilean Flamingos Location: Puerto Natales, Magallanes, Chile

#13 Birds In Landscapes Chile, 2025 Honorable Mention: Francisco Vera Núñez

Species: Austral Pygmy-Owl Location: Coyhaique, Chile

#14 Plants For Birds Colombia, 2025 Winner: Cristian Valencia

Species: Purple-backed Thornbill and Gaiadendron punctatum Location: Villamaria, Caldas, Colombia

#15 Birds In Landscapes, 2026 Winner: Liron Gertsman

Species: White-tailed Tropicbird Location of the photo: Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, Volcano, Hawai’i, USA

#16 Conservation, 2026 Honorable Mention: Lourdes Venard

Species: Bald Eagle Location of the photo: Coupeville, Washington, USA

#17 Female Bird,, 2026 Winner: Gail Bisson

Species: Common Merganser Location of the photo: East Bay Sandbar, Nova Scotia, Canada

#18 Female Bird, 2026 Honorable Mention: Peter Brannon

Species: Common Nighthawk Location of the photo: Tampa, Florida, USA

#19 Birds In Landscapes, Colombia, 2026 Winner: Faber Mosquera Alvarez

Species: Oilbird Location of the photo: Pijao, Quindío, Colombia. In the Cañón de los Guácharos

#20 Birds In Landscapes, Chile, 2026 Honorable Mention: Paulo Olivier Hanshing

Species: Neotropic Cormorant Location of the photo: near Caleta Talcaruca, Limarí, Coquimbo region, Chile

#21 Plants For Birds, 2025 Honorable Mention: Sean Krepski

Species: Rose-breasted Grosbeak, dogwood tree Location: Prospect Park, Brooklyn, New York, United States

#22 Grand Prize Chile And Colombia, 2025 Winner: Felipe Esteban Toledo Alarcón

Species: Ringed Kingfisher Location: Saval Park, Valdivia, Los Ríos, Chile

#23 Birds In Landscapes Colombia, 2025 Winner:

Species: Blue-headed Parrots Location: 5th Street, Cali, Colombia

#24 Coastal Birds Chile, 2025 Honorable Mention: Solange Sepulveda

Species: Black-necked Stilt Location: Papudo, Valparaíso, Chile

#25 Coastal Birds Chile, 2025 Winner: Francisco Castro Escobar

Species: American Oystercatchers Location: Antofagasta, Chile

#26 Plants For Birds Colombia, 2025 Honorable Mention: Rubén Tórres

Species: Orange-winged Parrot and Blue-headed Parrot, Bactris sp. Location: Yalí, Antioquia, Colombia

#27 Plants For Birds, 2026 Honorable Mention: Kevin Lohman

Species: Brandt's Cormorant and surfgrass Location of the photo: Natural Bridges State Beach, Santa Cruz, California, USA

#28 Youth, 2026 Winner: Ian Shultz

Species: Rock Pigeon Location of the photo: Golden Gardens Park, Seattle, Washington, USA

#29 Conservation, 2026 Winner: Santiago Pérez Rincón

Species: Yellow-eared Parrot Location of the photo: Anaime River Canyon, Rural District of the Municipality of Cajamarca, Department of Tolima, Colombia

#30 Youth, 2026 Honorable Mention: Camilo Sanabria Grajales

Species: Ruby-topaz Hummingbird Location of the photo: Guadalajara de Buga, Valle del Cauca / Colombia

#31 Plants For Birds Colombia, 2026 Winner: Santiago Giraldo

Species: Yellow-eared Parrot and Quindio wax palm Location of the photo: Anaime, Cajamarca, Tolima

#32 Birds In Landscapes Colombia, 2025 Honorable Mention: Julián Felipe Arbeláez Aristizábal

Species: Torrent Duck Location: Villamaría, Caldas, Colombia

#33 Birds Without Borders, 2025 Honorable Mention: Leonardo Guzman-Jimenez

Species: Greater Yellowlegs Location: Chia, Cundinamarca, Colombia

#34 Birds Without Borders Chile And Colombia, 2025 Winner: Jacobo Giraldo Trejos

Species: Royal Tern Location: San Andrés Island, San Andrés and Providencia, Colombia

#35 Bird Without Borders, 2026 Winner: Nick Parayko

Species: Tennessee Warbler Location of the photo: St. Albert, Alberta, Canada (in his backyard)

#36 Grand Prize Chile And Colombia, 2026 Winner: Francisco Castro Escobar

Species: Lesser Horned Owl Location of the photo: Antofagasta, Chile

#37 Birds In Landscapes, Colombia, 2026 Honorable Mention: Cristian Camilo Castaño Vargas

Species: Andean Cock-of-the-rock Location of the photo: Via al Huila, Sucre rural district, Florencia, Caquetá, Colombia

#38 Female Bird, 2025 Honorable Mention: Taryn M. Ware

Species: Acorn Woodpecker Location: Cuyamaca Rancho State Park, Julian, California, United States

#39 Grand Prize, 2025 Winner: Liron Gertsman

Species: Magnificent Frigatebirds Location: Teacapán, Sinaloa, Mexico

#40 Birds Without Borders, 2025 Honorable Mention: Maceo Susi

Species: Sanderlings Location: Halibut Point State Park, Rockport, Massachusetts

#41 Female Bird, 2025 Winner: Sean Pursley

Species: Chipping Sparrow Location: Bogus Basin near Boise, Idaho, United States

#42 Conservation, 2025 Honorable Mention: Miguel Hechenleitner

Species: Gray Gulls and Kelp Gulls Location: Ritoque Beach, Quintero, Valparaíso, Chile

#43 Youth, 2025 Honorable Mention: Camilo Sanabria Grajales

Species: Pied-billed Grebe Location: Lake Calima, Darien, Valle del Cauca, Colombia

#44 Youth Colombia And Chile, 2025 Winner: Camilo Sanabria Grajales

Species: Blackburnian Warbler Location: Santiago de Cali, Valle del Cauca, Colombia

#45 Birds Without Borders, 2026 Honorable Mention: Erich Podbielski

Species: Brown Pelican Location of the photo: Haystack Rock, Cannon Beach, Oregon, USA

#46 Birds In Landscapes, 2025 Honorable Mention: Charlie Sandbo

Species: Andean Condor Location: Torres del Paine National Park, Chile

#47 Birds In Landscapes, 2025 Winner: Joe Subolefsky

Species: Northern Gannets Location: Cape St. Mary’s Ecological Reserve, Newfoundland & Labrador, Canada

#48 Youth, 2026 Honorable Mention: Parham Pourahmad

Species: Red-tailed Hawk Location of the photo: Cupertino, California, USA

#49 Birds Without Borders, 2025 Winner: Yoshiki Nakamura

Species: Snow Geese Location: Mount Vernon, Washington, United States

#50 Conservation, 2025 Winner: Jean Hall

Species: Burrowing Owl Location: Marco Island, Florida, United States

#51 Conservation, 2026 Honorable Mention: Rodrigo Vega Neira

Species: American Oystercatcher Location of the photo: Llolleo Beach, Ojos de Mar Wetland, San Antonio, Valparaíso Region, Chile

#52 Youth, 2026 Winner: Juan David Camacho Márquez

Species: Canada Warbler Location of the photo: Doña Dora Birding, El Queremal, Valle del Cauca, Colombia

#53 Plants For Birds Colombia, 2026 Honorable Mention: David Paredes Bravo

Species: Golden-rumped Euphonia and Tillandsia recurvata Location of the photo: Alto del Zarzo, Manizales, Department of Caldas, Colombia

#54 Birds In Landscapes, 2026 Honorable Mention: Jay Vanos

Species: Great Blue Heron Location of the photo: Caddo Lake Wildlife Management Area, Karnak, Texas, USA

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