Bronze prize winner in the Best Portrait category was a pair of Purple-crested Turacos photographed by Richard Flack in South Africa. Gold prize winner in the Best Portrait category was a symmetrical photo of a Greater Sage Grouse by Ly Dang in the United States. The Grand Prize winner and winner of the gold prize for Birds in the Environment category went to Erlend Haarberg for his magnificent image of a Rock Ptarmigan taking flight surrounded by an expansive wintery mountain and fjord landscape in Norway.

The Digital Photography School announced the winners of this year’s Bird Photographer of the Year international competition, which includes a number of winners in several categories. The 2022 winning photos include an amazing collection of bird photos that range from scenic and portraits to close-up photos – all featuring dynamic birds. The contest received thousands of entrants, all vying for the “Bird Photographer of the Year” title and its $5,000 award.

Ultimately, the grand prize went to Erlend Haarberg from Norway for his magnificent image of a Rock Ptarmigan taking flight surrounded by expansive wintery mountain and fjord landscape. First place in the portrait division was won by American photograph Ly Dang for a symmetrical image of a displaying male Greater Sage Grouse. You can view all the winning bird photographs at View the Bird Photographer of the Year 2021 Winners — Bird Photographer of the Year (birdpoty.com)

In addition to some cash prizes, winners received prizes from competition sponsors including Swarovski binoculars, Olympus birding equipment, Zenfolio websites, and F-Stop Gear backpacks. As a testament to the competition’s success, BPOTY was able to give thousands of dollars to Birds on the Brink, a charity that “functions as a voice for the embattled avian world and actively speaks out for the benefit of birds and conservation.”

There is even a beautiful coffee-table book featuring the winning photos you can also check out at Bird Photographer of the Year 2022 publication

If you are interested in entering the next competition, you can begin entering now through December 11, 2022, and winners will be announced in late summer of 2023. There is also a Young Bird Photographer of the Year category for youths 18 and under. For more information about entering, see Bird Photographer of the Year - International Wildlife Photography Competition (birdpoty.com)