The Swiss Ornithological Station has announced the winners of its 2026 bird photography competition, which received entries from 586 photographers across 23 countries. This competition, a longstanding tradition, focuses on capturing images of birds in their natural habitats. Among the winners is Tobias Gjerde from Norway, who was named grand winner for his photograph of a male goldeneye attempting to impress a female on a quiet pond in the forest. The image highlights the natural behaviors of birds during mating season. In the general category, Davide Crola from Italy won first place with a long-exposure shot of a heron on a dark rock by a river. Agnieszka Florczyk from Poland took second place with an image of great herons hunting in shallow waters. Paula Czäczine from Germany secured third place with a photograph of black-legged kittiwakes near abandoned fishermen's huts in Norway. These images showcase the diversity of bird behavior and environments. In the emotion category, Michal Janiak from Poland won first place for a photo of pink flamingos at Kerkini, while Julian Lozinski from Poland took second place with a black and white image of water reflections on the island of Hornøya. Radomir Jakubowski from Germany won third place with a shot of black geese crossing a road on the Dutch island of Texel. These photographs emphasize the emotional and aesthetic aspects of bird life. In the action category, Jan Wittmer from Germany won first place for a photograph of a kingfisher taking off at sunrise. Luca Lorenz and Hermann Hirsch from Germany took second place with an image of a crested tit passing in front of the camera lens. Maksymilian Paczkowski from Poland won third place with a photo capturing starlings in a frozen environment during the winter of 2026. These images highlight dynamic and fast-paced moments in the bird world. In the youth category, Paula Czäczine from Germany won first place with a shot of slender-billed sandpipers on a Norwegian island. Tomasz Michalski from Poland took second place with an image of a pink flamingo at the boundary of light and shadow on a Cypriot lake. Jakub Woźny from Poland won third place with a photograph capturing the colors of the sky before sunrise. The winners' images can be viewed on the competition's website.