Bird photography captures moments of beauty that often pass in the blink of an eye. One instant, a bird is tucked away in the branches; the next, it takes flight across an open sky. The DPReview 2026 Bird Photography Challenge honors these brief, breathtaking scenes with 44 outstanding winning photos, chosen by a worldwide community of photography enthusiasts.
Talented photographers from around the world sent in their finest bird images, featuring everything from striking action shots to close-up portraits bursting with color and character. What truly sets this challenge apart is the community-driven judging process. Photography lovers themselves review and vote on the entries, ensuring the winners reflect genuine admiration for both skill and artistry.
For years, DPReview has been a trusted resource for photographers hoping to refine their craft. The site offers monthly challenges across a variety of topics, encouraging participants to try new things, learn from one another, and showcase their work. In addition to these contests, members can join conversations about equipment, techniques, editing, and creative ideas.
The 44 winning photographs featured here serve as a vivid reminder of nature’s wonders and the patience needed to capture them. Whether you’re passionate about wildlife photography or just appreciate stunning visuals, these images are sure to inspire and renew your sense of awe for the remarkable world of birds.
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1st Place Winner: Black-crested Coquette by GeffBourke
« A Black-crested Coquette hummingbird feeding on a flower in Costa Rica between rain showers. »
2nd Place: Mother and baby great horned owls by Kenny T
3rd Place: Chimango Cara Cara by Namirk
4th Place: The Happy Couple by Tomhongkong
« A pair of Griffon Vultures photographed near Mertola, Alentejo, Portugal »
5th Place: Anna’s Hummingbird by Paul 100A
6th Place: Osprey Adult vs Juvenile by Vbuhay
« I took this picture of a parent Osprey and its chick to demonstrait how to identify an Adult (yellow eye) and a juvenile (orange or redisheye ) Osprey. in addition this picture also shows how to identify the female (brown feathers in the neck, necklace area) and the male (no necklace) of this bird species. »
7th Place: A naive mistake by dv312
« Raven getting too close to PEFA’s nest and got tagged »
8th Place: Tree swallow by CheeYong
« Tree swallow took a shower in the pond. One of the frame capture the bird before she entered the water. »
9th Place: Black Headed Gull by Sergio Image
« A Black headed Gull of Finland with spread wings at the start of spring. »
10th Place: Red Kite by cocoanud
11th Place: Untitled by Prosa
12th Place: Grey Heron by Gregg-F
« Lurking in the shadows »
13th Place: Condor Charisma by DColligan
« A California Condor hanging out in Pinnacles National Park. Being on the endangered species list, I got lucky and saw one while hiking on the « High Peak Trail ». »
14th Place: Horned Lark at Golden Hour by BradVarnum
« A flock of Horned Larks landed on a hill in front of me to forage for food in the patches of grass surrounded by fresh snow. I slowly got closer and closer until I could take photos at eye level while still using the hill to hide from the flock to not flush them. The lighting was perfect, a warm golden hour glow to contrast the cool snowy background. »
15th Place: A Heron and its prey by Alicia del Aguila
« A great egret hast just caught a fish. Cinta Costera, Panama City. »
16th Place: The Cardinal by N4865G
17th Place: Snowy Egret by Number 5
18th Place: Portrait of a Bald Eagle by Kalifornier
19th Place: Bald Eagle in flight by Kees77
20th Place: Cedar Waxwing Trio by Phil SF
« Cedar Waxwings in a poplar tree out back. Flock was flying back and forth, tree to tree, maybe looking for the Juniper tree that was recently there. They love Juniper berries — sorry guys! »
21st Place: Bahamian Raptor by Patrick Carty
« An Osprey floats over Coco Cay in the Bahamas, looking for the next meal. »
22nd Place: Male Common Merganser by Denaljo
23rd Place: Shout it out Loud by Bobdjo
24th Place: You’re losing me! by GinoSVK
25th Place: Golden Cheeked Warbler by Con Brio
26th Place: Mountain Chickadee by Kcleeton
27th Place: Stonechat by allenns
« Stonechat came close on cliff walks in Aberporth Wales. »
28th Place: Pretty Pochard by DrummerJim
« An amazingly still RSPB Otmoor, near Oxford, UK. This one caught my eye and I’m glad it did. Very smart duck. »
29th Place: Eastern Whipbird by Denjw
« A difficult bird to photograph as its a ground forager which keeps dark dense thickets/heath and does not often appear in the clear. Captured this one on a sandy clearing at a coastal thicket. »
30th Place: Bathing by Praskaton
31st Place: Singing in the rain by Nigelpitt13
« A Cape Robin Chat, with its distinctive supercilium above the eye, on a cold, damp, wintry, wet and windy Autumn day singing his signature tune in the rain. »
32nd Place: Black Grouse by Photoleondpp
33rd Place: Seriema’s Eye by Minas Eye
34th Place: South Carolina migration by Champ42e
« April is migration time along the coast of South Carolina. It is the perfect time for bird watching and photography in the Carolina lowland. »
35th Place: Just a House Sparrow by kathiewilson
« Everyone see’s them but up close they look pretty good. »
36th Place: Western Bluebird in flight by Shiann Yang
37th Place: House Sparrow by Youying Pan
38th Place: Superb fairy-wren by Jill Hancock
39th Place: Red-breasted Merganser by Joachim Wulfers
« Photographed at the La Salle Marina on Burlington Bay »
40th Place: Three in a row by by Shelworth
41st Place: Hattorfer Duck by Goobz
« We rode our bikes to three nearby lakes and managed to see some ducks and beevers. »
42nd Place: Common Robin at Sunset by Priyotosh
« Common American Robin captured at sunset near Kaufmann Lake, Champaign, IL. »
43rd Place: Pheasant by Schil Schillemans
44th Place: Follow the Direction by AdiJu
« Three ducks fly as required by the context. »
Frequently Asked Questions:
What is the DPReview Bird Photography Challenge?
The DPReview Bird Photography Challenge is a monthly community photography competition focused on birds. Photographers submit their best images, and members of the DPReview community vote for their favorites. The challenge highlights creativity, technical skill, and passion for wildlife photography.
How were the winners selected?
The winners were chosen through community voting. After photographers submitted their bird photographs, DPReview members reviewed the entries and voted for the images they found most impressive, rewarding both artistic vision and photographic excellence across a variety of bird photography styles.
Why is DPReview popular among photographers?
DPReview is one of the largest online photography communities. It offers gear reviews, photography tutorials, technique discussions, editing advice, and monthly photo challenges. Photographers of all skill levels use the platform to learn, improve their craft, and connect with others.
What types of bird photos are featured in the challenge?
The challenge includes a wide variety of bird photography, such as birds in flight, wildlife action scenes, environmental portraits, close-up details, and behavior-focused images. The winning photographs showcase both the beauty of birds and the skill of the photographers.
How can photographers participate in future DPReview challenges?
Photographers can join the DPReview community and watch for upcoming monthly challenge announcements. Participants simply submit images that match the theme, engage with the community, and gain valuable feedback while competing alongside photographers from around the world.