As photography subjects go, birds are notoriously (and literally) flighty. So it's not hard to admire the work on show at the Bird Photographer of the Year contest. The winners of the 2021 prize have been announced, spanning a range of technical categories, narrowed down from a flock of 22,000 entries.
The prize-winning work showcases some of the world's most colourful species and also highlights their delicate, essential place in our world.
See the winners of each category are below, and explore more incredible entries at www.birdpoty.com. If you're feeling inspired, the 2022 competition will open on 30 September 2021, with photographers of all levels invited to register. There's a £5,000 to be won, so eyes on the skies.
Birds in the Environment & Bird Photographer of the Year
Backlit by a golden sunset on the remote island of Fair Isle, this puffin was captured by photographer Kevin Morgans on his annual return to the far north of Scotland. @ Kevin Morgans / Bird Photographer of the Year
A former deputy editor at Science Focus, Ian once undertook a scientific ranking of the UK's best rollercoasters on behalf of the magazine. He is now a freelance writer, which is frankly a lot less fun.
