From king penguins to barn owls, these photographs tell the story of the beautiful lives of birds
Birds are fascinating creatures, and these winning images from the Bird Photographer of the Year contest are evidence of it. The competition celebrates the beauty of birds while also supporting conservation efforts and raising awareness of the threats they face
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Using a wide-angle lens, here’s a shag taking off on the Norwegian island of Hornøya. In the image, it looks like a gigantic bird flying over all the others, but in reality the bird is flying very close to the lens and therefore appears much larger. Image Courtesy: Jannik Jansons/Bird Photographer of the Year
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Giant petrels are the scavengers of the Southern Ocean, often seen feeding on carrion. This individual has its head stained red with blood from a recent meal. Although their feeding habits may seem gruesome, these birds play a vital role in the ecosystem by preventing the spread of disease. Image Courtesy: Steffen Foerster/Bird Photographer of the Year
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A red deer killed by a car in the pine forest near to where I live provided a fantastic opportunity to document the activity of carnivores and scavengers visiting the carcass. Image Courtesy: Francesco Guffanti/Bird Photographer of the Year
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A group of king penguins emerging from the ocean in the Falkland Islands. Image Courtesy: Steffen Foerster/Bird Photographer of the Year
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I was fascinated by the extraordinary skills and elegance of Brandt’s cormorants as they fed on an almost endless school of small pilchards. Most of the hunting activities took place at sunset, when the low natural light conditions were challenging. Image Courtesy: Franco Banfi/Bird Photographer of the Year
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The choughs seem completely unfazed as they hop around, searching for scraps left behind by tourists. Image Courtesy: Luca Lorenz/Bird Photographer of the Year
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This male capercaillie, illuminated by the first rays of the rising sun, had perched in the ideal spot. Image Courtesy: Mateusz Piesiak/Bird Photographer of the Year
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The Greater Adjutant is a near threatened species with a population of fewer than 1,500 mature individuals left in the wild. It was very sad to see such a rare bird struggling for food at this rubbish dump. Image Courtesy: Hira Punjabi//Bird Photographer of the Year
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A fledgling buffy fish owl perched on a low, unlit street light. The bird remained quite still, its feathers drenched by the rain, but occasionally shook itself vigorously, sending water droplets flying in all directions. Image Courtesy: Jim Lee/Bird Photographer of the Year
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When a male Asian houbara (also known as Macqueen’s bustard) performs his courtship dance, he puffs out his beautiful white breast feathers and starts running around, usually in a prominent place – all in order to attract a mate. This bustard is normally very shy and difficult to see due to its wonderfully cryptic plumage. Image Courtesy: Chen Ein-Dor/Bird Photographer of the Year
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A lone bird rests on a vast field of solar panels along the highway, an unexpected symbol of nature amidst human innovation. Image Courtesy: Alex Pansier/Bird Photographer of the Year
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‘After well over a year of planning, my dream of capturing a bird in front of a total solar eclipse finally came true. Image Courtesy: Liron Gertsman/Bird Photographer of the Year
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This disused French chapel was occupied by barn owls who had no flat surfaces on which they could nest. Image Courtesy: Benoit Henrion/Bird Photographer of the Year
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