A northern gannet diving into the sea at breakneck speed. “Sunball Rocket” by British photographer Henley Spiers is the winning photograph of the 2026 Bird Photographer of the Year competition, selected from among more than 24,000 images submitted to the international contest. The photo also took first place in the “Birds in the Environment” category, which focuses on the relationship between birds and the environments in which they live.
The Gannet’s Dive
The photograph captures the moment when the gannet prepares to dive into the water to catch its prey. During the dive, the gannet can reach speeds of up to 86 kilometers per hour. This speed requires specific adaptations: the neck muscles stabilize the vertebrae at the moment of impact, while air sacs in the body help absorb the shock. The nostrils are also located internally, a feature linked to their ability to dive.
The category dedicated to the environment also awarded “Majesty” by Åsmund Keilen of Norway, which won the silver medal, and “Back to Fishing” by Romain Barats of France, which won the bronze medal. The contest thus dedicates a specific section to images that highlight the connection between species and the habitats on which they depend.
From Cities to Endangered Species
The relationship with human-altered environments is also at the heart of the “Urban Birds” category, won by Italian photographer Gianluca Damiani with “Alter Ego,” which features a herring gull photographed in Rome. The silver medal went to Romain Barats and the bronze to Julian Fernandez Quilez.
The importance of conservation is even more clearly evident in the “Conservation Award,” presented to British photographer Conrad Dickinson for a series dedicated to the hen harrier in England. Dickinson writes that there should be a population of over 300 pairs in England’s mountainous regions, whereas today less than 10% of that number remains.
According to the photographer, the decline is also linked to the hunting of black grouse that takes place in the same areas. In May 2025, Dickinson writes, four harriers suddenly disappeared in northern England. Some birds were found shot, poisoned, or caught in traps. To protect the nests, staff and volunteers from the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds are conducting round-the-clock surveillance. The young gannets are also measured, weighed, and fitted with rings and satellite transmitters.
From the cormorant to the owl
Among the award winners is 16-year-old Parham Pourahmad from the United States, who won the Young Bird Photographer of the Year title with “Moonlit Night,” a photograph of a Virginia owl against the full moon.
In the Conservation category, the bronze medal went to Luca Eberle of Italy for “DiscardedEvidence.” The gold medal was awarded to Kent Stuart of the United States for “Not a Good Day Fishing,” while the silver medal went to Yann Bigant of France for “Birds in the Red.”
The award-winning photographs and those receiving honorable mentions will be compiled in *Collection 11*, a volume featuring over 250 images from the contest. This collection of photographs spans marine habitats, urban areas, and regions where species conservation also relies on direct monitoring of the animals.
