Final 12 months, the Audubon Pictures Awards expanded to incorporate the South American international locations of Colombia and Chile. The additions proved a right away boon for everybody: Not solely had been the awards all of the sudden open to a complete new phase of gifted chicken photographers and videographers, however photographs that includes the 2 international locations’ jaw-dropping range of species poured in. The entries dazzled our judges whereas giving new dimension to our winners, honorable mentions, and annual Top 100.
Our bonus galleries additionally reaped the advantages, together with our favorite bird behaviors and our favorite chick pics from the 2025 awards. The video gallery right here includes a 50-50 cut up between clips from North and South America. Combined in with footage of a washing Snowy Owl and loving Frequent Loon you’ll now discover daring Torrent Geese and Golden-headed Manakins with strikes. So take a look at the movies under, study the story behind every shot, and if you happen to’re curious to study extra about Audubon’s work in Latin America, go to here.
Snowy Owl by Danny Oh (above)
Location: Duxbury Seaside, Massachusetts
Technical Particulars: Sony A1 with a 200-600mm lens at 600mm; 1/240 sec at f/6.3 ; auto ISO
Behind the Shot: I took this video as we had been leaving the seashore after photographing a number of Snowy Owls one morning. To our shock, this chicken was on the principle dust highway bathing in a melted snow puddle. Not desirous to miss the chance, I obtained out of my automobile, knelt down within the mud, and began to file with out using a tripod. We tried to remain the place we had been, slightly than transferring round to get nearer and inflicting the owl stress. The Snowy appeared relaxed, because it bathed for an extended whereas. This video was taken round midday in early December when the owls had not but established their territories on the seashore, and thus had been nonetheless very energetic. I had by no means seen a Snowy Owl bathing and was elated. It was undoubtedly a once-in-a-lifetime expertise.
Allen’s Hummingbird by Sukhjot Singh
Location: Irvine, California
Technical Particulars: Sony A7 Mark III with a Sony 200-600mm G Lens at 600mm in Tremendous-35 Mode; 1/250 sec at f/6.3; ISO 1600
Behind the Shot: Winter may look like an uncommon time for nesting, however right here in Southern California, Allen’s Hummingbirds get an early begin. Starting in October, this feminine Allen’s rigorously scouted for a nesting website. She then tirelessly collected fur, small leaves, and twigs, skillfully bonding them along with spider webs to make a nest. Whereas incubating the eggs, she braved a number of downpours and chilly, windy nights with 40 mph gusts. Ultimately, the tiniest of beaks popped out and began begging mother for meals. She was punctual in feeding, and shortly sufficient the chicks started flapping their wings. It was a bittersweet second after they took their first flight. I knew how robust their journey was and the way laborious their mother had labored to guard and supply for them. This candy reminiscence of her feeding a chick after its first flight will stick with me perpetually.
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher by Sukhjot Singh
Location: San Joaquin Marsh, Irvine, California,
Digital camera specs: Sony A1 with Sony 70-200mm F2.8 GM lens at 280mm and a Sony 1.4x teleconverter; 1/1000 sec at f/5.6 with 45° shutter angle; ISO 100
Behind the Shot: Blue-gray Gnatcatchers are one in every of our cutest songbirds, and it was my purpose to point out why they’re referred to as gnatcatchers with a video. Documenting these tiny birds is difficult, as they’re usually on the transfer and really swift and agile in flight. Throughout a go to to Sea and Sage Audubon in Southern California, I noticed a small swarm of gnats hovering close to a tree. I rapidly positioned myself and waited with persistence. My efforts had been rewarded when this Blue-gray Gnatcatcher made a swift strategy and relished a late afternoon buffet. By slowing the footage from 120 frames per second to 24 frames per second, we are able to admire the gnatcatcher’s agile flying, notably the transient second when it pauses its wingbeats to descend gracefully. This second lasted only some seconds, and I’m grateful to have skilled it alongside this tiny however exceptional chicken.
Golden-headed Manakin by Rubén Torres Restrepo
Location: Vereda San Mauricio, Yalí, Antioquia, Colombia
Technical Particulars: Nikon d7500 with a Tamron 150-600 mm; 4K 24 fps (1/50 sec) at f/6
Behind the Shot: Nearly 4 years in the past I found that, in the midst of a forest that I usually traversed throughout my monitoring outings, Golden-headed Manakins collect in precisely the identical spot to lek, finishing up their courtship shows and mating practices. These leks are small areas that can be utilized for as much as a decade and all the time have a relentless, close by supply of meals—largely small fruits—which permits them to take care of their vitality throughout their nearly all-day shows. Grownup males carry out to draw females, whereas juvenile males apply their “dance strikes.” At this specific website, I’ve recorded as much as eight males on the similar time.
Torrent Duck by León Felipe Jiménez
Location: Gachetá, Cundinamarca, Colombia
Technical Particulars: Sony 200–600mm G at 600mm; 4K, 120 FPS, 1/250 sec at f/8; ISO 800
Behind the Shot: The Torrent Duck is a shy and elusive species that requires persistence, data of its conduct, and a stealthy strategy to {photograph}. Getting shut to those geese has been fairly a problem, as a single misstep will trigger them to swiftly flee downstream. Because of this, I strategy from downstream, letting the present circulation towards me. I transfer quietly, studying their conduct and retaining my distance to not trigger stress. They all the time see me first, regardless of how a lot camouflage or many hides I exploit. I’ve spent a number of years documenting the species’ pure historical past as a part of a brief movie about Torrent Geese within the Andean rivers of Colombia. This specific scene reveals a chick and its father in the midst of a dashing river. For me, the scene captures the essence of this extraordinary duck: excessive adaptation, parental care, and resilience within the face of a dynamic setting.
Frequent Loon by Danny Oh
Location: Lengthy Lake, Bridgton, Maine
Technical Particulars: Sony A1 with a 200-600mm lens at 600mm, 1/240 sec at f/6.3; auto ISO
Behind the Shot: I’ve been following this Frequent Loon household in Maine for a few years. This specific 12 months, the pair had one child. I imagine this scene was from the primary week after the loonlet had hatched. The infant was driving on its mom’s again within the afternoon after being fed the entire day, thus the newborn was full and getting drained. It quickly after yawned and fell asleep. The chicks was so treasured and cute. To not disturb the household, I hid behind a bush and recorded utilizing a tripod.
Cedar Waxwing by Andy Raupp
Location: Montello, Wisconsin
Technical Particulars: Sony a1 with Sony 200-600mm lens
Behind the Shot: This video of two Cedar Waxwings splashing round in a shallow pool was taken in our yard. My dad and I constructed this water characteristic to draw birds, and throughout the hotter elements of the 12 months, it all the time attracts in a lot of completely different species as they arrive for a drink or to splash round and funky off. One sizzling spring day, whereas I used to be arrange with my digicam close to the water characteristic, a small flock of Cedar Waxwings flew in. I used to be thrilled to seize this slow-motion video of two of the waxwings splashing round.
Rainbow-bearded Thornbill by Juan Jacobo Castillo
Location: Armenia, Quindío, Colombia
Technical Particulars: Canon R7 with Rf 100-500mm lens; 120 fps at F5.6; ISO 800
Behind the Shot: This video was captured within the Colombian Andes, at two miles above sea degree, in a patch of Andean forest the place this hummingbird makes its dwelling. The footage was the results of ready for six hours within the chilly, rain, and fog. After many cups of sizzling espresso, and because the fog slowly lifted, I noticed the hummingbird because the solar started to interrupt by way of. I watched it feed on completely different flowers, dozing off at instances, preening, and stretching its feathers in several moments. It’s well-known that these birds are extremely territorial, usually returning to their favourite perches. So I centered on the department the place I knew it might land, ready the digicam, and captured this magical second because the chicken preened and stretched its feathers.
Black-necked Swan by Sebastian Jesus Varela Monsalve
Location: La Albarrada, Arauco, Chile
Technical Particulars: Sony a7r4 with Sony 200-600; 1/800 sec at f/6; ISO 200
Behind the Shot: I used to be out on the lookout for birds with my accomplice, and due to a tip from a good friend, we went to La Albarrada, situated in our dwelling metropolis of Arauco. To succeed in this wetland, you need to drive all the way down to the bottom of a hill. After we arrived, we noticed a pair of Black-necked Swans with their chicks. They had been very calm beside the highway, so we merely obtained out of the automobile and took out our gear to seize images and movies. We spent a very long time there, having fun with that particular second.
White-vented Plumeleteer by Juan Antonio Alonso de Juan
Location:: Pacho, Cundinamarca, Colombia
Technical Particulars: Nikon D850 with Sigma modern 150-600mm lens at 600mm; 1/640 sec at f/6,3; ISO 250
Behind the Shot: Through the years, throughout my walks with my canine, I’ve been accumulating small native crops that develop alongside the perimeters of paths which are normally destined to be minimize throughout routine clearing. I give them an opportunity to develop in my backyard, and I particularly like to gather flowering crops that appeal to hummingbirds. This offers these birds with a everlasting, pure feeding place, as completely different timber and shrubs produce flowers at completely different instances of the 12 months. On this specific video, the flower of the nacedero tree may be seen, whose blossoms feed at the least seven completely different species of hummingbirds that I’ve noticed in my backyard.
