Red-naped Sapsucker. Cohen: "When I found an active red-naped sapsucker nest, I saw firsthand the work parents did to feed and care for their brood. With my gear on a tripod, I positioned myself to watch their comings and goings. The chicks inside were too young to poke out of the hole, but both parents regularly brought larva and insects to the nest. They’d also carry off fecal sacs—little packages of poop—like the one covered in wood chips pictured here." Photographed in Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada. #

Elegant Tern. Lohman: "I visited the same location for several days in a row to photograph a large flock of Elegant Terns, a seasonal visitor to the area. One day I observed many of them on a sandbar in a pond, occasionally taking off as a group, flying around, and returning until something triggered them to take off again. After seeing this happen a few times, I set up my tripod at an angle where I would have a nice reflection of the birds as they took off." Photographed at Moss Landing Wildlife Area, in Moss Landing, California. #

Little Blue Heron. Anderson: "I arrived before sunrise and schlepped my gear down 1,000 yards of beach before spying this bird across a tidal lagoon. I ditched my shoes and shirt and waded into the water. I made a wide arc to get the light behind me and dropped to my stomach. The water was eight inches deep, so I crawled closer, my lens kept dry by my aching arms. In this shot, the bird is retracting its head after stabbing at a fish." Photographed in Fort de Soto Park, in Pinellas County, Florida. #

Eastern Screech-Owl. Teague: "On a windy day, I set out to find this pair of eastern screech-owls with my grandmother and her friend, one of the most knowledgeable birders I know. After a short drive, we noticed the owls sitting in a long branch above the road. Being quiet as to not wake the owls, I grabbed my tripod and the longest lens I own. I set my tripod as high as it would go, set the timer function on my camera, and snapped this picture. This was an especially important and joyful moment for me as not only did I get to see the birds, but I shared the experience with others who love nature as well." Photographed in Belmont, Massachusetts. #

Southern Ground-Hornbill. Sproat: "In the golden light of evening, we were on a game drive in Maasai Mara National Reserve when we happened upon a trio of ground-hornbills foraging in the tall grass. As one adult stalked past our vehicle, I snapped a point-blank portrait." Photographed in the Maasai Mara National Reserve, near Narok, Kenya. #

Black-bellied Whistling-Duck. Pelta-Heller: "After shooting one evening at Orlando Wetlands Park in February 2023, a couple of friends and I made our way back along a boardwalk. There we saw a group of black-bellied whistling-ducks congregated on the railing. I gently perched my camera on the railing as well, taking care not to disturb them. We were lucky to have had our ducks in a row that evening." Photographed in Orlando Wetlands Park, in Christmas, Florida. #

White-tailed Ptarmigan. Ismert: "I was lucky to find this ptarmigan after I snowshoed up a mountain and discovered it feeding on dried willow leaves, seeds, and stems exposed from the frequent scouring winds high on the ridgeline. As I laid in the snow to get images at eye-level, the ptarmigan continued to feed on the willow remnants without paying me any attention. To my delight, it even got closer and preened in a small clearing." Photographed in Arapaho National Forest, Georgetown, Colorado. #

Common Raven. Kalyn: "As these two preened each other’s feathers, the raven on the left rested its beak on the other, a fleeting moment I was happy to capture as it shows the love these two have for each other, a bond that lasts a lifetime." Photographed in Manning Provincial Park, in British Columbia, Canada. #

Bald Eagle and Great Blue Heron. Whittaker: "I set out on a challenging hike to photograph wildlife and hopefully see something out of the ordinary. The highlight of the hike is a 17-acre beaver pond where great blue herons nest in the spring. After photographing herons flying in and out of their nests, I heard the water splashing. A bull moose had wandered into the pond. I couldn’t believe my eyes since moose are rare in Connecticut. Half an hour later, I heard the great blue herons’ prehistoric calls. When I looked up to see what the commotion was, I saw a bald eagle dive bomb a heron nest, grab two chicks, and fly away." Photographed in Connecticut Audubon's Richard G. Croft Memorial Preserve, Goshen, Connecticut. #

American Flamingo. Chen: "Every May, about 20,000 flamingos come to mate in Rio Lagartos, Mexico. The estuary is perfect for flamingos, who enjoy the red algae, plankton, and brine shrimp that live in the salt water. These four flamingos moved and stretched while I photographed, showing the flexibility and grace of their long necks as they fought for their mates." Photographed in Río Lagartos, Yucatán, Mexico. #

Cedar Waxwing. Lohman: "I was looking through my kitchen window when I saw a flock of cedar waxwings invade a cotoneaster plant across the street. I grabbed my camera and walked over, positioning myself behind a large tree so that I would not disturb the birds as they quickly picked berries, swallowing them whole." Photographed in Santa Cruz, California. #

Elegant Tern. Kandula: "I was sitting on the beach, occasionally glancing at some striking Heermann’s gulls and a mixed flock of elegant and royal terns. Suddenly, a male elegant tern started a courtship display with his characteristic proud pose—an erect crest and drooping wings—while offering a small eel to a potential mate. At that same moment, two birds were walking and flying in the background, giving a composite feel to a single image." Photographed on Bolsa Chica State Beach, in Orange County, California. #

Allen’s Hummingbird. Barton: "On a walk through my neighborhood one spring morning, I entered the domain of a territorial Allen's hummingbird. The bird’s photogenic looks and energetic personality never cease to enamor me. It chased away rivals and fed at purple Pride of Madeira flowers, returning to his perch on a chain-link fence." Photographed in San Diego, California. #

Tree Swallow. Stroh: "As I drove home one day, I noticed the backlit flashing wings of a group of Tree Swallows hunting over wetlands. I decided to dedicate the next weeks of my photography outings to these swallows flying in early morning light. I would wake up hours before sunrise and make my way to the wetlands to set up my equipment, spending hours observing the birds and understanding their patterns. Thousands of photographs later, I was thrilled to capture eye contact and full wing spread in this frame." Photographed in Eastern Shore, Maryland. #

Brown Skuas. Klipp: "Wandering the beaches of South Georgia Island, where animal activity abounds, is heaven for wildlife photographers. When I was there, an elephant seal pup carcass washed up on the beach and a group of hungry and aggressive Brown Skuas and Giant Petrels quickly attacked. I slowly approached the birds, who took no interest in my presence. I got down low with my wide-angle lens and tried to capture the shot at their eye level, with the mountains and sky in the background." Photographed in Gold Harbor, on South Georgia Island. #

Crested Auklet. Brundage: "A light drizzle fell as I hiked over slippery, loose rocks to a place that provided unobstructed views of a small cliff ledge overlooking the Bering Sea. I scouted the area the previous evening and, although this ledge was unoccupied at that time, it seemed like a spot that Crested and Least Auklets might favor. I sat down on the rocks, removed my gear from my backpack, and set up. Fifteen minutes later a Crested Auklet landed on this ledge. A couple minutes later its mate joined him." Photographed along Reef Point Road, on St. Paul Island, Alaska. #

Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks. Wilson: "This park offers winter refuge for hundreds of black-bellied whistling-ducks and a variety of other migrating birds. On this January morning, the temperatures were well below freezing, an unusual occurrence in southern Louisiana. I went to the park before sunrise hoping I could catch the backlit, frosty breath of a singing bird. As I faced the rising sun, one duck lifted its head above the others and stretched its neck as it let out its breath while whistling." Photographed in Lafreniere Park, Metairie, Louisiana. #

Chinstrap Penguin. Sveinsson: "After a tumultuous crossing of the Drake Passage, numerous delays, and multiple weather problems, our unassuming ship finally arrived in Antarctica, where we met a beautiful and pristine snowy landscape. I wanted to capture a chinstrap penguin in a unique pose or situation and take advantage of the environment. Finally, as my legs were getting tired and as the guides began to get all the guests back to the boat, I got the pose I imagined." Photographed on Half Moon Island, South Shetlands, Antarctica. #

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher. Snipper: "A Scissor-tailed Flycatcher was seen, rather unusually, at a county park near me in Central Florida. Off I went the very next morning, determined to see the bird. After several attempts, I noticed a light-colored bird hopping around in the grass. Much to my delight, it flew up into a tree with a large katydid. With seconds to spare, I positioned myself for the best light and view. The bird tossed its katydid into the air for a big gulp." Photographed on Mullet Key, in Fort De Soto Park, Florida. #

Black-necked Stilt. Hota: "A family of Black-necked Stilts with four chicks hung out close to a popular boardwalk at a nearby refuge. One morning, when an adult called for the chicks to come close, I panned my camera toward the parent. The timing was perfect. All four chicks got under the wings one by one." Photographed in Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge, San Jose, California. #

Sandhill Cranes. Burgess: "On a drive outside Grand Teton National Park looking for grizzly bears, I came across this sandhill crane pair feeding in the shadow of Teton Village’s towering ski resort. The birds launched into an explosion of activity as they tossed themselves into the air and gently landed on lithe, elegant legs. I was stunned by the beauty of the perfectly aligned pair and fired off a burst of shots in the low light, capturing this intimate split-second image of the two lovers entwined symmetrically in their mating dance." Photographed in Teton Village, Wyoming. #

Eastern Towhee. Nicholson: "Most days around peak migration, I get up before sunrise and visit the temperate rainforest near my house. I bird where towhees call but are rarely seen as they forage in the newly green undergrowth. One day, I saw one hop to the lowest branch of a tulip tree and continue to climb. I climbed a hill so I could be level with the top of the tree, where the bird started singing just as the sun peeked through the forest on the opposite ridge. " Photographed in Pisgah National Forest, Candler, North Carolina. #