The 2021 Audubon Photography Awards has announced is winning photographs, which showcase the best of the North American avian species in all their glory. For the 12th edition of the annual contest, the judges picked the top bird photographs as winners from nearly 2,500 entries.
Thousands of participants, from all 50 US states and 10 Canadian provinces, submitted their work for the 2021 Audubon Photography Awards. Surprisingly, amateur photographer Carolina Fraser won the grand prize for her beautiful picture of a Greater Roadrunner. Here are the best images from the wildlife photography contest that’ll surely make you fall in love with these winged wonders of nature.
Not any regular bath, this Greater Roadrunner is taking a sand bath in the early morning sun on Los Novios Ranch, Texas.
Image: Carolina Fraser
This striking Northern Cardinal was captured in Rural Muskegon County, Michigan, while flying plant to plant, feeding on the seeds.
Image: Steve Jessmore
A newborn Sandhill Crane colt rests atop its mother during a windy day in Florida.
Image: Robin Ulery
This Anna’s Hummingbird seems to be playing hide and seek while sipping nectar from purple pride of Madeira flower in Claremont Canyon Regional Preserve, Berkeley, California.
Image: Patrick Coughlin
On the shore of Burnaby Lake with green grasses and brown reeds in the background, a Canada Goose flies up from the water as another Canada Goose honks at it.
Image: Josiah Launstein
Master of the air, this Peregrine Falcon brings a recently captured Acorn Woodpecker to a ledge and starts plucking its feather to prepare the meal.
Image: Tom Ingram
The photographer was fortunate enough to capture a shot of a Purple Sandpiper in Rockport, Massachusetts, where the Arctic visitor settled down in water along the Atlantic Coast.
Image: Arav Karighattam
Red-Winged Blackbird hopped from lily pad to lily pad, plucking out insects inside the yellow and white flowers to feed its younglings.
Image: Shirley Donald
This Anna’s Hummingbird gently pucks at a cattail fluff with a certain elegance as it gently tugs the seed fibers from the cattail. A fun little task!
Image: Karen Boyer Guyton
A surprise encounter with this female Northern Harrier won the first-ever Female Bird Prize of the contest.
Image: Elizabeth Yicheng Shen
A Red-tailed Hawk holds a chipmunk in its yellow talons, as the raptor bends low to look at its chipmunk prey.
Image: Steve Jessmore
This flock of Sanderlings scampering on the shore in search of food looks an absolute delight.
Image: Nadia Haq
Small waves roll as three Black Skimmers walk directly in line with one another and the lens, so their bodies seem to blend almost as one while five distinct wings stick out.
Image: Douglas DeFelice
A California Quail stands on a rock in the midst of a path with its head turned to the side and looks quite at peace in tranquil surroundings.
Image: Ti Yung Hwa
The sun outlines this Anhinga’s neck and head, as its gular sac beneath its beak looks flared, with the red translucent skin brighter and veins visible in the skin.
Image: Eric Schertler
Sitting in a birdbath, a brown-and-yellow Pine Siskin appears to enjoy the lukewarm water and the serenity of the scene on a cold day.
Image: Christopher Baker
This white-and-black American Avocet tried to capture aquatic invertebrates by sweeping its bill side to side, but only got water suspended in its open bill.
Image: Tim Timmis
Seems a Shy Bird – A white-morph reddish Egret flaps its wings around while standing in shallow water with its back to the camera.
Image: Tim Timmis
The photographer captured this Mountain Bluebird feasting on the Russian olive berries amid crystal-like hoarfrost on the tree limbs.
Image: Eric Peterson
Against the blanket of white snow-covered field, two sharp-tailed grouse fight to win over a female of the species, as is the custom of the animal kingdom.
Image: David Slikkers