A photo of a grouse changing color flying over snow-capped mountains in Tysfjord, Norway, won the top prize from more than 20,000 entries.
Bird Photographer of the Year is a global photography competition. Out of more than 20,000 entries, this image of a ptarmigan flying over snow-capped mountains in Tysfjord, Norway, took the top prize.
The image earned Erlend Haarberg the title of "Bird Photographer of the Year". In the photo, the grouse, scientifically known as Lagopus mutus, flies over the Tysfjord in northern Norway. This species has plumage that changes color in winter, summer and autumn. They easily camouflage themselves according to their habitat. Haarberg recalls: "I spotted some traces of the Lagopus mutus from behind a rock. A few seconds later, it spread its wings and flew over the mountains, with the fjord landscape in the background, making for the perfect shot." Photo: Erlend Haarberg.
The top prize in the “Attention to Detail” category went to Andi Pollard for “King Penguin.” The photo shows the long, soft, brown feathers of a sleeping king penguin. The photo was taken at Volunteer Point, a headland in the Falkland Islands. Photo: Andy Pollard.
A male sage grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) struts on the prairies of the Great Basin, USA. In these traditional show grounds, males of this endangered species perform in the hope of winning mating rights. This behavior is for the benefit of the females, who judge the talent competition and select the best genes to pass on to the next generation.
American photographer Sue Dougherty captured this photo in the Cariboo region of British Columbia, Canada. The bird emerged from a lake with water droplets perfectly adorning its head and neck. Dougherty captured the moment while standing on a nearby boat: "They look like sparkling diamonds surrounding its ruby eyes." The author pointed out that the reflection in the bird's eyes is the trees on the lake shore. The photo won bronze in the "Attention to detail" category. Photo: Sue Dougherty.
A pair of rose-breasted parakeets fly past a mural in the Queensland town of Yelarbon, Australia. This artistic image won gold in the "Birds in Flight" category. Australian photographer Raoul Slater explains that the mural was painted on a grain silo in the town. The two rose-breasted parakeets were attracted by the chia seeds stored inside. Photo: Raoul Slater.
This photo won a gold medal in the "Bird Behavior" category. It shows two Sage Grouse fighting fiercely to show off their dominance and impress the females. Peter Ismert, the photographer, explained: "During the spring - the breeding season - male Sage Grouse gather in certain locations and often engage in fierce fights." Ismert revealed that he camped overnight in Colorado (USA) to capture the moment. Photo: Peter Ismert.
Silver prize in the "Bird behavior" category, taken at Berwickshire Marine Reserve (Scotland). Penguins are one of the species with the amazing ability to swim freely. Photo: Henley Spiers.
In the "Urban birds" category, a photo of a flock of flamingos in Abu Dhabi (UAE) ranked first. In the photo, a flock of flamingos soars over the Abu Dhabi skyline. The author stood on the top floor of a skyscraper in the morning, when fog still covered the city. "At that time, the only sign of the urban landscape was the tops of the buildings rising above the fog," Ahmed said. Photo: Ammar Alsayed Ahmed.
"The Doting Couple" by Richard Flack, South Africa. Bronze winner, bird portrait.
“Pied Avocet Chick” by Tamás Koncz-Bisztricz, Hungary - Silver winner
“Sunset” by Thamboon Uyyanonvara, Thailand - Bronze winner
“Puffin Love” by Brad James, Canada. Silver Winner, Best Portrait.
Phuong Thao
- Source: The Guardian
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