An impressive photo of a nestling Western Gull shows an attendant adult just beyond focus, this image was composed by youth photographer Faith Barton in La Jolla, California during a nature photography workshop provided through “Girls Who Click,” a non-profit organization that promotes young female wildlife photographers. Backlighting provided a golden glow in the wings of a Tree Swallow, taken by amateur photographer Nickolas Stroh at Eastern Shore, Maryland. A dramatic photo of a pair of Bald Eagles vying for a fish near Seabeck, Washington was taken by professional photographer Bonnie Block.

After announcing the winners of the 2023 Audubon Photography Awards last month, the National Audubon Society judges have selected a wonderful collection of the Top 100 bird photos from among approximately 9,000 photos and videos entered by 2,200 photographers from all 50 states and 8 Canadian provinces and territories. Enjoy taking a look at 100 more of Audubon’s favorite photos; shared in no particular order, these exciting photographs depict birds in their breathtaking variety and wonder in the wild.

The variety of bird photographs also illustrate the many different techniques and approaches used by wildlife photographers – amateurs, professionals, and student photographers – and each one of the Top 100 photographers describes the equipment they used, where the photos were taken, and what transpired as they took their photograph. See the Top 100 bird photos for yourself at The 2023 Audubon Photography Awards: The Top 100 | Audubon

After reviewing this gallery of bird photography, truly bird art, you should feel inspired to enter one or more photographs you consider among your best in next year’s Audubon Photography Awards!