The 2026 Audubon Photography Awards: Winners

Bird Lore: Until recently, this nocturnal hunter of southern South America was considered a Great Horned Owl, a species widespread from Canada and Alaska to northern Argentina. But it has a very different voice, featuring two rapid hoots followed by a guttural trill. It’s not exclusively a desert owl, however: Like its northern relative, the Lesser Horned Owl has adapted to a variety of habitats, from scrubby forests of the high Andes to rocky canyons and lowland desert.  

Judge’s Take (Sebastian Herzog): This photo evokes a feeling of finding an enchanted spot in the heart of Chile’s natural landscape. Set against a dimly lit backdrop, the captivating gaze of this majestic owl’s intense yellow eyes stands out against its snow-white face, creating a fairy-tale atmosphere. Thanks to a perfectly calculated depth of field and impeccable composition, the vibrant cactus becomes an unexpected companion to the solitary protagonist.   
 

Bird Lore: Although caracaras belong to the falcon family, their habits are strikingly different from those of their faster-flying relatives. Crested Caracaras, the most familiar species, are widespread in open country from the tip of South America to the southern United States. They often feed as scavengers, joining vultures to dine on carrion, but they are also versatile hunters, catching everything from rodents and birds to snakes and scorpions. In addition to watching for prey from a perch or while flying, these long-legged raptors may walk on the ground to seek large insects or wade into shallow water to catch fish. 

Judge’s Take (Sebastian Herzog): The Torres del Paine landscape has been photographed so many times that it’s very difficult to capture it in an original and fresh way. This photographer succeeded in doing so in an extraordinary manner by creating a unique composition that looks as if it were a masterpiece painting of the Romantic period. The reflection of the peaks on the lagoon in the background creates a visual association with the two caracaras in the foreground. The birds seem like they’re posing for the camera.  

Birds Without Borders: Nick Parayko  

Behind the Shot: I’d recently moved into a home that backed onto a city ravine, so I set out to document my new yard birds in the native vegetation. This migrating Tennessee Warbler stayed for more than a week after discovering an abundant food source: a well-timed mass emergence of flying ants. To get this shot, I concealed myself beside my air-conditioning unit. When the warbler perched on an elderberry, I captured it in a fun position against a soft, two-toned background. In just a short time birding around my yard, I’ve documented more than 70 species, a reminder of the diversity that exists within urban environments. I hope my photos draw attention to the rich wildlife that can be found close to home. 

Bird Lore: The Tennessee Warbler was so named only because pioneer naturalist Alexander Wilson, traveling west of the Appalachians in 1810, saw his first one there. The species splits most of its time between the tropics and Canada. During spring migration and on the northern breeding grounds, males may sing from treetops. But in their southward migration, which begins in late summer, Tennessee Warblers are often seen in low shrubs or weedy fields, where insects abound. 

Judge’s Take (Taty Soto-Bartzi): I think most bird photographers can bond over how frustrating and difficult it can be to photograph warblers. But we look forward to spring and fall when we can attempt to get a great photo. This image perfectly captures this curious bird searching for bugs and has a lovely color palette and lighting. 

Bird Lore: The Black-browed Albatross is one of the smaller and most widespread albatross species. It breeds on islands in the sub-Antarctic and southern oceans, and ranges at sea as far south as the Antarctic continent and north to offshore waters of Brazil and Australia. While the birds might seem free to wander the seas of the world, studies show that individuals from different nesting colonies tend to migrate to different regions of the ocean outside the breeding season. Those from South Georgia Island, for example, mostly move to waters off southern Africa, while those from the Falklands favor the seas east of South America.  

Judge’s Take (Claudio Contreras Koob): This image caught the judges’ attention because it offers an almost abstract view of the albatross. The skillful use of a modest background, which does not distract the viewer, allows the eye to instead follow the lines and tones that lead us to the albatross’s piercing gaze, the focal point of the composition.  

Coastal Birds, Chile: Gonzalo Bertolotto Quintana 

Behind the Shot: I was working as the meteorologist aboard a 558-foot-long multipurpose vessel of the Chilean Navy and as a member of a University of Magallanes’ scientific expedition in Antarctica. One afternoon, some Gentoo Penguins swam around our ship. ​​​​​​I first thought I’d film them, but since we were moving, I decided to take photos instead. From a height of nearly 130 ​​​​feet, I managed to capture this image of one penguin from a unique angle: with almost its entire body submerged, revealing the bubbles and swirl that formed as it flapped its wings. Even though it was underwater, its movement was visible, creating a symmetrical scene made possible by the elevated view. 

Bird Lore: Seen waddling along awkwardly on land or ice, penguins may seem comical, even clownlike. But as soon as they reach the water’s edge, those clumsy movements vanish, and the penguins transform into aquatic marvels—as fast as torpedoes and as graceful as mermaids. Every detail of their body structure is adapted for speed and maneuverability at sea, and it’s a fair tradeoff for slow progress on land, where they face no significant predators. The Gentoo, one of the larger penguins, often dives to more than 300 feet below the surface as it pursues prey.  

Judge’s Take (Katherine Sanhueza): In this photograph, the ocean becomes an infinite blue canvas while the penguin emerges as a brushstroke of life and freedom. The bird’s movements create fleeting trails across the water, creating a delicate and harmonious composition that reminds us of the beauty of nature. This perfectly captured scene invites us to contemplate the art that exists in the simplicity of a fleeting moment.  

Behind the Shot: I was on a boat with a team of scientists who were looking for fin whales and sperm whales, when a group of Black-browed Albatrosses circled us with obvious curiosity. The water was exceptionally clear, so I decided to submerge my GoPro camera attached to a long pole to capture the delicate movement of the birds’ webbed feet beneath the surface. Suddenly, one swam closer and dove down as if to investigate the shiny object. In the slow-motion footage, you can see its eyes in beautiful detail. 

Behind the Shot: Photographing this Oilbird in flight inside its sanctuary of shadows was a test of patience and technique. I knew the lighting conditions in the cavern would be critical, so I went ahead of the group I was with, crossing a rushing river to find the perfect angle without disturbing the area. I increased my camera’s light sensitivity and used a high shutter speed to freeze the birds’ movement. As my companions caught up with me, the cave came alive in an explosion of fluttering wings. I had a nasty fall on the river rocks on my return trip, but my knee pain vanished when I saw this image. 

Bird Lore: The word unique barely begins to describe the Oilbird. These birds live in colonies inside caves, emerging only at night to feed on certain types of fruiting trees. Their eyes are incredibly sensitive to light, they have a keen sense of smell, and they also use echolocation to navigate. While flying, they produce bursts of sharp clicking calls, and the returning echoes allow them to avoid obstacles in the forest on moonless nights or in the total darkness of a cavern.   

Judge’s Take (Sebastian Herzog): Taking sharp, captivating photos of birds in flight requires a lot of experience and skill, but capturing a primarily nocturnal bird inside a cave without using a flash is on another level! This photo stands out for its technically complex execution, which freezes the Oilbird in mid-flight and allows us to discern all the details of its plumage, despite lighting conditions far from ideal. It offers us a rare glimpse into the dark home of this enigmatic species.   

Behind the Shot: Saguaro cactus blossoms begin opening in early April in southeast Arizona.  They only bloom for about a day and a half, providing an opportunity to observe pollinators like birds and bats. The flowers are usually way too high for me to get a good perspective, but these were on an arm that grew to the side. I stopped by every morning, waiting for the buds to open. When they did, I watched this female woodpecker’s head completely disappear into the blossom as it sampled the nectar. The result is both whimsical and fascinating behavior. 

Bird Lore: In dry lowlands of the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico, Gila Woodpeckers have a close relationship with the giant saguaro cactus, an icon of the Sonoran Desert. When the saguaro blooms, the birds visit the flowers and aid in pollination. Later they return to eat the fruits and excavate a nest in the cactus. The soft inner pulp stiffens around the birds’ nest cavity over time, and the resulting hard shell may serve as a natural birdhouse for other species for many years to come. 

Judge’s Take (Marlene Pantin): This image artfully demonstrates the mutual bond between these two species. The birds rely on the plant for safe nesting spaces and food, as we see here, and the cacti benefit from the pollination services that woodpeckers provide. 

Behind the Shot: I was in Tolima for a wedding and took the opportunity to visit this magical yet desolate mountain landscape. Some of the country’s last wax palm forests survive here, even as multinational corporations continue clearing these ecosystems to make way for monocultures of Hass avocado crops. With a local guide, I went to see the Yellow-eared Parrot, whose survival depends on the wax palm. I hope this image of the bird and palm surrounded by crops conveys a message of vigilance: Thanks to the tireless efforts of environmental advocates, the species was saved from near extinction—but if avocado plantations keep encroaching, the parrot’s story of recovery could take a turn for the worse. 

Bird Lore: A large parrot of the Andes, this species was formerly common in parts of Colombia and northwestern Ecuador, but suffered steep losses due to habitat destruction. By the late 1990s, its population was estimated at only about 80 individuals. With intensive efforts to protect its habitat, Yellow-eared Parrot numbers have bounced back, with recent estimates of more than 2,000 birds. But that’s still a dangerously low number. 

Judge’s Take (Jaír F. Coll): This photograph captures the poignant resilience of the Yellow-eared Parrot. The scene contrasts the bird’s solitude with a background dominated by the geometry of monoculture crops, highlighting the fragmentation of the species’ habitat. With an impeccable composition, the work is not only aesthetically beautiful but also serves as an urgent invitation to reflect on the pressure that agribusiness exerts on our Andean landscape and its endemic species.  

Behind the Shot: While my father went paddleboarding in Puget Sound, I would often walk along the shoreline to photograph herons, gulls, and Ospreys. Most days, I dismissed pigeons as too common to document. This morning, however, I noticed Rock Pigeons swoop out from beneath an old pier to collect nesting material and then bank back underneath, flaring their wings and fanning their tail feathers wide as they braked to land. One individual’s plumage seemed to glow whenever it passed through a shaft of sunlight. I positioned myself on boulders below the pier and captured this shot when the pigeon swept into the frame. The experience taught me a lesson: Even common birds can produce the day’s most striking image. 

Bird Lore: Introduced around the world by humans, the Rock Pigeon has proven surprisingly adaptable and resilient. In its original range in parts of Eurasia and northern Africa, it nested on cliffs along the coast or in arid foothills. Today it can be found nesting on building ledges, in barns, under bridges, and on myriad other manmade sites on six continents. The beams beneath a coastal pier may provide a perfect site for a nest, with the surface above keeping rain out and the water below deterring land-based predators. 

Judge’s Take (Sadie Hine): The first thing that stands out about this image is the creative use of light. By capturing this exact moment, the photographer transformed a common, overlooked bird into a striking subject. The subtle background textures add visual interest and elements of storytelling and beautifully complement the bird’s warm tones. The longer you look, the more details you discover. 

Behind the Shot: I spend a lot of time photographing waterfowl, but on this bitterly cold winter day, I was reluctant to leave my warm house. I pushed myself to go out. The ducks were not very active, and after 30 minutes I decided to go warm up in the car. Normally I leave my camera on the ice during breaks, but this time I took it with me. Thank goodness I did, because just as I reached the car, I spotted a female Common Merganser with a flatfish take to the air to protect her catch from other mergansers. I was thrilled to snap this frame as she passed me at eye level, but I worried it wouldn’t be tack sharp. It was!  

Bird Lore: Mergansers are among the few ducks that regularly eat fish, diving and swimming gracefully underwater to capture them in their long, slim bills. Ordinarily the bird will eat its prey promptly after catching it, pausing only long enough to maneuver the fish into position for swallowing it headfirst. But if other members of the flock try to steal the catch, the bird may have to maneuver to keep hold of its meal. 

Judge’s Take (Jess Gorzo): This felt like a portrait fit for a field guide illustration, while at the same time an extraordinary action shot brought to life by bright lighting and reflective ice and snow. The judges appreciated both the luck and skill involved in capturing this perfectly framed moment in flight, fish in beak. In addition to its excellent composition and subject, this joyful image captures a day in the life of a female Common Merganser. 

Behind the Shot: I was walking through the woods with a group of birding friends one cloudy morning when I came across a Plain-backed Antpitta—a lifer for me and one of the first records of the species for the area. With that sighting, my day was already a success, but then I saw​​​​ this Canada Warbler. I took a photo, but it was only when I looked at it later that I noticed the perfect dew-covered spiderweb hanging beneath the branch. The bird seems to be looking at the web, creating a natural harmony. For three years, I had tried many times to get a decent photo of this species, but I hadn’t yet succeeded. What you see before you is a dream fulfilled. 

Bird Lore: Found in its namesake nation for less than half the year, the Canada Warbler is a long-distance migrant. It spends the nonbreeding season mostly in South America at middle elevations in the Andes, where it largely sticks to dense understory of rain forest and cloud forest. It will sometimes join with flocks of other migrant or resident birds—especially those that follow swarms of army ants. The Canada Warbler then seizes the chance to grab smaller insects that the ants scare up.  

Judge’s Take (Sebastian Herzog): Capturing this intriguing composition of an adult male Canada Warbler—a migratory species that rarely stays still—requires shooting at just the right moment, with a very sharp focus and the ideal depth of field. Here, the bird seems to pause for a second in its constant search for food to gaze at a spiderweb. The raindrops caught on the web shine and show off the web's unique geometry.  

Behind the Shot: Nesting is not just a relationship between two birds; it’s often a whole set of species interactions. When a wax palm dies, woodpeckers peck into the bark, creating hollows that Yellow-eared Parrots later occupy. On this day, I waited​​ more than eight hours under the towering wax palms for this couple to appear. They’d just begun to build their home, and I wanted to capture them entering their nest, but the light worked against me. Then the pair offered a more intimate scene: their ritual of preening, an essential behavior for maintaining and strengthening their bond. The everyday interaction in this photo felt like an authentic expression of connection and mutual care. 

Bird Lore: Several kinds of parrots around the world have special connections to particular types of palm trees. For Yellow-eared Parrots of the Colombian Andes, their survival depends on wax palms of the genus Ceroxylon. Although they will feed on other kinds of fruits, the hard, reddish fruits of wax palms provide the mainstay of their diet. Yellow-eared Parrots also breed in colonies in groves of tall wax palms, each pair placing its nest in a hole high in a trunk.  

Judge’s Take (Niky Carrera Levy): The photo’s composition highlights both the parrots and wax palm, reminding us of a vital relationship. The interaction between the two birds conveys a sense of intimacy and dependence on the territory, while the textures of the trunk contrast harmoniously with the hues of their plumage. Beyond its aesthetic appeal, the image reveals that dead wax palms continue to serve as a refuge and a home. This is a deeply Colombian photograph that unites narrative, behavior, and conservation in a single snapshot.  

These photos originally ran in the Fall 2026 issue. To receive our print magazine, become a member by making a donation today. You can also view the runner-up images at this link, and stay tuned for our judges' Top 100 photos from the awards—coming on September 23.