"Bloodied Bird" Among the Winning Photos of the 2025 Bird Photographer Competition

Dubai, United Arab Emirates - The winning images of the Bird Photographer of the Year 2025 competition featured a stunning scene of a large white bird with blood-stained feathers, a cormorant feeding on a school of small fish, and a solitary bird perched on solar panels. The competition, now in its tenth edition, celebrates the beauty of birds, supports conservation efforts, and raises awareness of the threats they face.

This year's competition attracted over 25,000 entries, all competing for the grand prize of $4,000. Canadian photographer Liron Gertsman won the grand prize for his stunning image of a frigatebird in front of a total solar eclipse.

Gertsman captured the image on the eastern coast of Sinaloa, Mexico, after more than a year of planning. The photographer positioned his boat near some small islands frequented by these seabirds and patiently waited for the moon to pass in front of the sun.

Gertsman stated in a press release: "The total eclipse (when the moon completely covers the sun) was only supposed to last four and a half minutes." He added: "As the moon revealed the edge of the sun at the end of the total eclipse, I captured an image of the magnificent frigatebird in front of the stunning eclipse phase known as the diamond ring, a moment that lasts only a few seconds."

The director of this year's Bird Photographer competition, Will Nichols, stated in a statement: "Exceptional photography requires technical excellence, artistic vision, and dedication." Nichols continued: "This image is a striking reminder of what human creativity can achieve.

In a world where the use of AI-generated images is increasing, it is delightful to celebrate an inspiring image that is rooted in the natural world at the same time. Preserving the natural world is the essence of the competition, which is held in partnership with a charity called "Birds on the Brink," funding bird conservation projects globally.

The competition is not only about celebrating stunning images, but it is also "used to tell important stories," as Nichols mentioned, explaining further: "If these images encourage people to see birds differently and recognize the need to protect them for future generations, then we have achieved a worthwhile accomplishment."