Anna’s hummingbird, Patrick Coughlin/Audubon Photography Awards/2021 Fisher Prize. All images courtesy of Audubon, shared with permission
Most years, the Audubon Photography Awards garners entries from photographers who journey around the world to spot the elusive, extraordinary winged creatures they don’t usually see near their homes. The last few months have necessarily restricted travel, though, prompting 2021’s entrants to seek out the unique and remarkable moments happening right around them. Selected from 8,770 images and more than 260 videos, this year’s winners capture a wide array of avian species, including a greater roadrunner enveloped by a cloud of dust at Los Novios Ranch in Texas, a sleepy sandhill crane lounging on its mother in Florida, and a northern harrier as she spreads her wings before gliding down to catch her prey. You can see more of the top shots below, and check out previous year’s winners, too.
Sandhill crane, Robin Ulery/Audubon Photography Awards/2021 Amateur Award Winner
Greater roadrunner, Carolina Fraser/Audubon Photography Awards/2021 Grand Prize
Purple sandpiper, Arav Karighattam/Audubon Photography Awards/2021 Youth Award Winner
Northern cardinal, Steve Jessmore/Audubon Photography Awards/2021 Professional Award Winner
Red-winged blackbird on a lily pad, Shirley Donald/Audubon Photography Awards/2021 Plants For Birds Award Winner
Northern harrier, Elizabeth Yicheng Shen/Audubon Photography Awards/2021 Female Bird Prize