24 Best Bird Photographers You Need To Know

For bird photographers, capturing stunning bird pictures is no mean feat.

Half the struggle is tracking these beautiful but unpredictable creatures without disrupting their habitat or causing distress.

The rest is making sure you get the money shot.

We’ll explore the work of these incredible nature photographers who are pushing the boundaries of bird photography.

Whether you’re a bird enthusiast or looking to up your bird photography game, this article is for you.

Who Are the Best Bird Photographers?

Let’s look at bird photography through the lens of this year’s most influential bird photographers.

1. Paul Nicklen

 

Profession: Author, photojournalist, marine biologist

Paul Nicklen has over 20 assignments for National Geographic under his belt.

For his story on the Falkland Islands, home to millions of penguins, the former biologist captured penguins mid-flight, skimming icy waters, or gathered against snowy backdrops.

His albatross and dovekie photos are nothing short of spectacular.

Growing up on Baffin Island with the Inuits, Paul mastered frigid ecosystems and survival skills. Ultimately, this shaped him into an award-winning nature photographer.

Today, he uses his camera to document the effects of a warming planet on the polar regions. That said, his bird photographs often tell beautiful tales of resilience.

2. Frans Lanting

Profession: Photographer, author

Frans Lanting moved to the United States to study environmental planning before becoming a National Geographic wildlife photographer.

He specializes in lesser-known bird species, like the roseate spoonbill and marbled godwit. His photos of birds are often intimate and dramatic.

The Dutch nature photographer has authored several books, including Feathers and Flight, Penguin (Icon Series), and The Albatrosses of Midway Island.

Frans Lanting offers lessons for amateur bird photographers, which cover in-class lectures and on-site shooting.

• Bird Photography Tips + Settings for Perfect Results

3. Tim Laman

 

Profession: Photojournalist, biologist, ornithologist

Tim Laman is an American wildlife photographer with a Ph.D. in biology from Harvard University.

The ornithologist has published several scientific articles about bird life and rainforest ecology as a research associate at Harvard.

Tim Laman has been a regular contributor to National Geographic since the magazine featured his doctoral thesis in 1997.

His work focuses on documenting elusive creatures and endangered species of birds, like the Marquesan imperial pigeon and the Philippine wrinkled hornbill.

In 2007, National Geographic published his book with Ed Scholes, Birds of Paradise, chronicling all 39 known species of this exotic bird family.

4. Bence Máté

Profession: Photographer

Bence Máté is a trailblazer in hide-based nature photography, pioneering the widely popular one-way glass photography technique.

He has also designed several photography hides for a South African private game reserve, including bird bath hides for small bird photography.

He built his early hides in his native Hungary and Costa Rica.

The 2010 BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year has been a Panasonic ambassador since 2006. He is currently the face of Lumix G9 mirrorless cameras.

• 9 Best Cameras for Bird Photography

5. Joel Sartore

 

Profession: Photographer, author, teacher

American photographer and conservationist Joel Sartore is a longtime National Geographic contributor. His early assignments opened his eyes to humanity’s impact on the environment.

However, his passion for nature began in childhood, after learning about the last passenger pigeon from a Time-Life picture book.

Joel Sartore founded the Photo Ark project to document all animal species in zoos and wildlife refuges worldwide.

In 2022, Sartore photographed his 13,000th species: the critically endangered spoon-billed sandpiper.

His 14,000th animal is an Indochinese green magpie, captured in May 2023.

6. Suzi Eszterhas

Profession: Photographer, conservationist, author, speaker

Suzi Eszterhas is one of a handful of successful female wildlife photographers in a male-dominated field. She has written 19 books and her work has appeared on over a hundred magazine covers.

Her popular bird photos feature Toco toucans, red-legged honeycreepers, and black-crowned night herons.

Specializing in baby animals and animal families in the wild, the California-based photographer seeks to educate a new wave of conservationists.

Suzi Eszterhas also founded Girls Who Click (GWC), inspiring teenage girls to pursue wildlife photography.

• Guide to Wildlife Photography: Tips, Ideas & Inspiration

7. Will Burrard-Lucas

 

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Profession: Photographer, inventor, entrepreneur

Will Burrard-Lucas has taken dozens of amazing bird pictures from different African national parks.

His favorite subjects include various species of cranes, eagles, kingfishers, rollers, and bee-eaters.

The British photographer invented high-tech camera traps to capture crisp photos of animals in their natural habitats.

He also designed and built BeetleCam, a remote-controlled camera buggy for snapping animal close-ups.

8. Rathika Ramasamy

Profession: Photographer

Rathika Ramasamy is the first Indian woman to break into the international wildlife photography scene.

She fell in love with bird photography after visiting Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary in 2003.

Regular visits to the Okhla Bird Sanctuary further deepened her understanding of bird behavior.

Rathika Ramasamy has explored national parks in India, Kenya, and Tanzania in pursuit of her passion.

A selection of her stunning bird photographs appeared in a calendar for a prestigious New Delhi university.

9. Marsel van Oosten

 

Profession: Photographer, entrepreneur

Together with his wife, Daniella, Marsel van Oosten arranges wildlife photography tours through their company, Squiver.

Squiver was the first to offer photography tours to Namibia and the only one with microlight flights. Boat trips are also available, allowing you to shoot dolphins and pelicans.

As a bird photographer, he focuses on larger species like eagles, swans, and cranes. He shoots small birds only when they share the frame with a sizable animal.

One example is his photo of an oxpecker lounging on a cape buffalo’s horn, which won the Bird and Nature Festival in France.

10. Charlie Hamilton James

Profession: Photographer, television presenter, television producer, cinematographer

Charlie Hamilton James developed a fascination with kingfishers at an early age and eventually became an expert on the species.

His gorgeous blue-and-orange kingfisher photos appeared in a National Geographic article in 2009.

The British photographer engineers his own equipment to capture unique and challenging shots.

When not shooting wildlife, the British photographer works as a TV host for BBC. He has earned Emmy and BAFTA nominations for his shows.

Charlie also won the Royal Television Society Award for Photography twice.

11. Nick Brandt

Profession: Photographer, film director

Nick Brandt is most known for his collection of black-and-white photos of birds that seem to have stared into Medusa’s eyes.

He discovered the calcified birds, including a dove, flamingo, fish eagle, songbird, and swallow, along Lake Natron in Tanzania.

The lake’s high salt and soda ash content perfectly preserved the birds, making them look like they’d turned to stone.

12. Art Wolfe

Profession: Photographer, conservationist

Art Wolfe has traveled across North America, South America, Asia, and Africa to take magnificent bird photos.

Over the years, the American photographer has amassed a collection of images featuring dippers, mergansers, ostriches, oxpeckers, and storks.

He also enjoys photographing tufted birds, such as crowned cranes, cockatoos, cardinals, and peacocks.

His photos are famous for their vivid colors and tight compositions.

• How to Photograph Birds in Flight

13. Ami Vitale

 

Profession: Photojournalist, film director

Ami Vitale is a wildlife photographer, photojournalist, filmmaker, and Nikon ambassador.

From living in mud huts to donning panda suits, she embraces a hands-on approach to “living the story.”

You’ll find dazzling images of peafowls and ducks in her bird photography portfolio.

Ami’s award-winning work sheds light on the often-overlooked heroes of wildlife conservation.

As a National Geographic explorer, you can book expedition trips with Ami Vitale to Madagascar and the Upper Amazon.

14. Thomas D. Mangelsen

Profession: Photographer, conservationist

For 45 years, Thomas Mangelsen has been traveling the world to capture the last untouched wild spots on Earth.

Now, let’s rewind to Tom’s early days near the Platte River in Nebraska. It’s where his love for nature began, observing migratory birds and trapping geese with his father.

The American wildlife photographer has an extensive collection of bird photographs, from tiny jays to majestic eagles.

15. Sudhir Shivaram

Profession: Photographer

Sudhir Shivaram has been fascinated with birds since he trekked jungles in his youth. The Indian photographer spent hours near water bodies, hoping to capture the essence of these winged wonders.

Over the years, he has developed a distinct style you can spot from a mile away.

His secret? Using an 800mm+ focal length lens and simple photo processing.

The result is Shivaram’s signature style – a dreamy bokeh background.

16. Sandesh Kadur

Profession: Photographer, film director, film producer

Sandesh Kadur snapped his first photo at age 13, using his father’s Nikkormat camera. Filmmaking came later, inspired by his documentary about the Western Ghats.

As a city-dweller, the Indian photographer transformed his backyard into a mini-forest. Complete with a pond and bird feeders, it wasn’t long before it attracted sparrows, shikras, and paradise flycatchers.

Sandesh Kadur started his career in wildlife photography as a bird watcher.

It’s easy to get tunnel vision by looking through the viewfinder. However, bird-watching taught him patience and gave him a keen eye for movements.

17. Christian Ziegler

 

Profession: Photographer

Biologist-turned-photographer Christian Ziegler uses a Canon wide-angle lens and remote flash setups for his killer bird shots.

You’ve probably seen his work in National Geographic and various science journals.

His bird photos include barbet, blue-crowned motmot, keel-billed toucan, rufous-necked hornbill, and red-capped manakin.

Christian Ziegler was a finalist for the 2017 Wildlife Photographer of the Year for his photograph of southern cassowaries.

• What are the best lenses for bird photography?

18. Arthur Morris

Profession: Photographer, instructor, instructor, writer

Arthur Morris first embraced birding in 1977, after his basketball days were over. Then, he found himself photographing birds while juggling a teaching gig in New York City in 1983.

After seven years of pure birding bliss, Arthur Morris took the plunge into serious bird photography.

He admits to early missteps, such as struggling with exposure and consistently centering birds in his frames.

With no formal training, he relied on curiosity and learning from others.

Nowadays, Arthur Morris offers instructional photo tours, with Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Sanctuary as his favorite setting.

19. Melissa Groo

Profession: Wildlife photographer, conservationist, writer, speaker

Melissa Groo authored the Guide to Ethical Bird Photography and currently chairs the North American Nature Photography Association.

Her regal photo of a great egret won the grand prize in the 2015 Audubon Photography Awards.

Melissa Groo relies on her trusty Sony Alpha 1 to shoot breathtaking photos of birds and other species.

The National Geographic Image Collection represents her extensive work.

You can sign up for her online masterclass in bird photography through the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

20. Chris Packham

Profession: Television presenter, naturalist, author, cinematographer, nature photographer

Chris Packham’s connection with wildlife began practically from the moment he could crawl.

Even an autism diagnosis didn’t stop Chris Packham from pursuing nature photography.

As he grew, so did his skills, leading him to tackle still photography and pursue a career as a wildlife film cameraman.

Chris Packham is currently the president of The Hampshire Ornithological Society and vice president of The Wildfowl and Wetland Trust.

The conservationist received death threats after airing his campaign against bird-shooting licenses.

• Is conservation photography one of the most dangerous photography jobs in the world?

21. David Doubilet

Profession: Photographer, photojournalist, author

As National Geographic’s most published wildlife photographer, David Doubilet has completed 70 stories and 13 covers for the magazine.

At just 12, he started taking underwater shots using a Brownie Hawkeye camera tucked in an anesthesiologist bag.

Over the years, he has honed his skills in working with water and light.

While specializing in ocean photography, one of his most popular photos is a shot of the greater snow goose migration.

22. Marina Cano

 

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Profession: Photographer, speaker

Marina Cano was a classical music coach before becoming an award-winning wildlife photographer.

She transitioned to full-time wildlife photography after being named a European Canon ambassador.

The gamble paid off. Today, Marina Cano jets across the globe to shoot enchanting wildlife photos and deliver photography courses.

Intimate portraits against black backgrounds became her hallmark. Her bird photos feature an array of species, including egrets, herons, and lovebirds.

23. Andy Rouse

Profession: Photographer, author, TV host

Despite holding an electronics degree, Andy Rouse discovered his true calling in wildlife photography.

His style involves capturing unique angles of formidable creatures, often taking calculated risks. Among his preferred avian subjects are kingfishers, sparkling violetears, and wrens.

With a keen eye for detail and action, he has a knack for photographing birds in flight.

The British photographer has published several books, including Little Owls: Living on the Edge and Penguin Life: Surviving With Style in the South Atlantic.

With a passion for connecting people with nature, Andy Rouse actively shares his adventures on social media.

If you want to check out his work, his Instagram handle is @wildmanrouse.

24. Alan Murphy

 

Profession: Photographer, tour leader

Imagine growing up surrounded by the picturesque landscapes of Ireland and England – such was Alan Murphy’s childhood.

His love for birds and nature took root early on. When he moved to the United States in 1984, a whole new world of bird species awaited him.

Alan Murphy didn’t start with grand ambitions. He was more of a passionate hobbyist.

Poring over field guides, he couldn’t resist the urge to capture the beauty he saw.

What began as a personal quest for the perfect shot has now become Alan’s thriving photography business.

With an abundance of wildlife, it’s clear bird photography will be his lifelong passion.

• For more, check out these 50 famous wildlife photographers.