Categories
BirdLife Australia Photographer of the Year
Sponsored by Nikon Australia
In 2026, the overall competition winner will receive the BirdLife Australia Photographer of the Year Award. By entering any of the below categories, you’ll go in the running to win the Grand Prize – a Nikon Z 8 camera valued at $7,449 RRP.
Win: a Nikon Z 8 camera valued at $7,449RRP
Bird Portrait
Sponsored by Nikon Australia
Photographs where the bird is the star of the show! Photos entered in this category should showcase the beauty and character of Australian birds.
Tip: unique and interesting compositions, poses, behaviours, expressions, lighting and tones will capture the attention of our judges and help your entry stand out from the crowd.
Win: $1,000 AUD
Birds in Flight
Sponsored by Nikon Australia
Photographs of birds doing what they do best – flying! Photos entered in this category should depict one or more birds in flight, and can include multiple species. For this category, the sky is the limit.
Tip: our judges will be looking for distinctive, inspiring and dynamic compositions for this category.
Win: $1,000 AUD
Bird Behaviour
Sponsored by Nikon Australia
Photographs capturing the natural behaviours of Australian birds. Photos entered in this category should show birds in action – such as feeding, courting, playing, fighting, preening or socialising – and can include multiple species.
Tip: our judges will be looking for unique and interesting compositions and behaviours for this category.
Win: $1,000 AUD
Backyard Birds
Sponsored by Nikon Australia
Photographs of the birds in a backyard setting, ie: house, townhouse, local park and gardens. Photos entered in this category should speak to the connection between you and your local birds. Photos can include birdbaths, fences, balconies and other backyard scenes.
Tip: creative composition depicting the coexistence of birds with humans will attract the attention of our judges.
Win: $1,000 AUD
Human Impact
Sponsored by Nikon Australia
Photographs that illustrate the impacts of humans on birds, either positive or negative. Photos entered in this category should be thought-provoking and convey an emotive story about the relationship between humans and birds, whether confronting or uplifting.
Negative impacts could include climate change, floods, fires, drought, pollution or human disturbance.
Positive impacts could include bird conservation, recovery, rescue and rehabilitation efforts.
Tip: photos of captive or pet birds are permitted, but must be disclosed upon entry.
Win: $1,000 AUD
Birds in the Landscape
Sponsored by Lake Cowal Foundation
Photographs of birds in the context of their natural environment. Photos entered in this category must include at least one bird, which can be either a prominent or background feature in relation to its habitat. The photo must clearly depict the landscape.
Tip: our judges will be looking for photos that celebrate Australia’s diverse landscapes and the birds that inhabit them.
Win: $1,000 AUD
Youth
Sponsored by Nikon Australia
Open to photographers under the age of 18 only at the time entries close.
Win: $1,000 AUD
Special Theme: Australian Finches
Sponsored by Nikon Australia
Australia is home to 18 resident native finches, including grass-finches, parrot-finches and mannikins. They’re some of our smallest and most striking birds, renowned for their vibrant plumage, distinctive calls and lively, highly social behaviour.
From the spectacularly-coloured Gouldian Finch foraging in tall grass, to a frenetic flock of Zebra Finches drinking from an outback waterhole, Australia’s finches have long captured the imagination of bird lovers all over the world.
Found across the country in a variety of habitats, including in urban and rural areas, these small seed-eating birds depend on native grasses to survive. Sadly, many Australian finches are in decline, increasingly threatened by the destruction, development and degradation of their feeding and breeding habitats.
This category is a celebration of Australia’s iconic native finches.
Photos entered in this category must depict at least one native Australian finch. Please note that introduced and exotic finches aren't eligible for this year's Special Theme.
Photos entered in this category must depict at least one native Australian finch species.
Eligible species are as follows:
Masked Finch
Long-tailed Finch
Black-throated Finch
Pictorella Mannikin
Gouldian Finch
Blue-faced Parrot-Finch
Crimson Finch
Star Finch
Plum-headed Finch
Double-barred Finch
Zebra Finch
Painted Finch
Red-browed Finch
Diamond Firetail
Beautiful Firetail
Red-eared Firetail
Yellow-rumped Mannikin
Chestnut-breasted Mannikin
Please note that introduced and exotic finches aren't eligible for this year's Special Theme. In Australia, these include:
European Goldfinch
European Greenfinch
Nutmeg Mannikin
Please enter any photos of these species in other relevant categories.
Win: $1,000 AUD
Portfolio Prize
Sponsored by Nikon Australia
A compilation of Australian bird photos, each connected in theme, location or subject matter. Together, they tell a compelling story.
For this category, photographers can submit up to two portfolios of six photos each, and will need to provide a statement explaining why they’ve chosen this series and how each photo is connected.
Win: $2,000 AUD
Entry costs
We charge a modest entry fee, which supports our bird conservation work and helps fund the prize pool and offset running costs.
A discount for Early Bird entries will apply from 7 April to the 24 April.
Prices are per entry, are in AUD and include GST. The prices for the 2026 competition are as follows:
Open Categories
First 5 entries: $10 Early Bird / $12 regular
6–12 entries: $7 Early Bird / $8 regular
13+ entries: $6 Early Bird / $7 regular
Portfolio Category
Collection of 6 photos per portfolio
Early Bird: $35 (per portfolio)
Regular: $45
Youth Category
For entrants under the age of 18 only
First 5 entries: $4 each
6–12 entries: $2.50 each
Photo credit: Water trails by Rebecca Harrison