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American Goldfinch by Roslynn Long

See all the 2019-20 winners!

Category 6: People's Choice

Grand Prize Winner

Surrounded by Pink!

Eileen Chorba

Beach Lake, PA, USA

The male American Goldfinch posing for a moment among the blossoms of our cherry tree.


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Category 8: People's Choice

Second Place Winner

Strike A Pose

Mary Santangelo

Effingham, Illinois, USA


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Category 1: People's Choice

Third Place Winner

Sharing

Pam Garcia

Mansfield La,USA

Two orchard orioles ready for some jelly!!


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Category 8: Judges' Choice

In you face!

Dianne Roland

Harrison, TN, USA

A juvenile male ruby-throated hummingbird looks back at me as I snap his picture in my backyard.


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Category 7: Judges' Choice

A Valentine’s Kiss…

Melissa Rowell

Clearwater, FL, USA

I was sitting on the beach photographing a Snowy Egret when out of the corner of my eye, I noticed these 2 Pigeons being very affectionate with one another… though the Snowy is definitely a gorgeous bird, I was captivated by the behavior of these “boring but beautiful” Pigeons.


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Category 7: People's Choice

Northern Mockingbird vs. European Starling

LAURA FRAZIER

Middleway, WV, USA

A Mockingbird and Starling have a tiff over the last bit of suet cylinder (the Mockingbird won)


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Category 6: Judges' Choice

Outta Here!

Christine hansen

Galveston, TX, USA

There’s nothing more fun than watching bathing beauties!


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Category 5: Judges' Choice

Anna’s hummingbird

Jessica McConahay

Portland, OR, USA


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Category 5: People's Choice

Comin’ in HOT!!!

Bethany Knox

Pittsburgh, PA, USA

Timing is everything, & this Northern Cardinal‘s approach to the feeder is perfection!


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Category 4: Judges' Choice

Hues of Blue

Jennifer Smith

Camp Springs, KY, USA

In a late Summer afternoon in my backyard in Northern Kentucky, the sun lights up the back of this Blue Jay and lets it show off all its Beautiful Blues.


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Category 4: People's Choice

Just call me Jay

Jaculin Bowman

Meadowlands, MN, USA

Once in a while you get a glimpse of the sun while visiting Sax Zim Bog in the winter. This Canada Jay, was soaking up the rays this day!


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Category 3: Judges' Choice

Cardinal

Kim Caruso

McCook, Texas, USA

Young cardinal enjoying a drink and a bath on a hot summer morning


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Category 3: People's Choice

Scarlet Tanager

Gina Harmeyer (The Bird Perch)

Kalamazoo, MI, USA

This Scarlet Tanager was a dream come true! Last spring, at least 3 males and 1 females showed up to a feeder I had just sat up outside my window. I had never seen them before and was not expecting to! I feel so fortunate to have been able to see them this year for about a month!


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Category 2: Judges' Choice

Savannah Sparrow on a stalk of flowering Fireweed

Jamin Taylor

Palmer, AK, USA

A beautiful Savannah Sparrow perched on a tall Fireweed stalk on the countryside in Alaska.


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Category 2: People's Choice

In Flight

Diane Marshman

New Milford, PA, USA

Dark Eyed Junco in flight.


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Category 1: Judges' Choice

Cactus Wren

Rick Williams

Tucson, AZ, USA

Cactus Wren w/a snack on a saguaro cactus in Tucson, Arizona.


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How the Photo Contest Works

  1. 1Every other Monday will have a BirdSpotter photo challenge, telling you what kind of photo we want to see.
  2. 2Upload your best pic and start voting! Each contest category runs from Monday through midnight the following Thursday.
  3. 3There will be two photo winners every other week: one photo that received the most votes and one "Judges' Choice." Winners are announced every other Friday and will be entered to win the Grand Prize! Subscribe to the FeederWatch blog and receive the stories behind all the BirdSpotter winners in your inbox.
One entry per person per challenge, please.
Contest runs November 11th through March 12th.

See official rules >


See all the 2019–20 contest categories!!

Most Recent Entries

More ways to win!

Data Entry Awards

Registered FeederWatchers can win BirdSpotter prizes by simply entering data and sharing their best tips, stories, and bird-watching memories. When participants submit bird counts, they will see a "Share your story" prompt and an "Enter to Win" button on their Count Summary page. Four different prompts will be advertised throughout the contest and winners will be randomly selected. Not a FeederWatcher? Join now!

A stocky, metallic green hummingbird with a straight bill hovers under a yellow flower as it drinks the flower's nectar.

Latest Winner!

Data Entry Contest: Backyard Bird Havens

| Anna’s Hummingbird by Jessica McConahay | For the sixth season in a row, Project FeederWatch and our sponsor Wild Birds Unlimited are rewarding registered FeederWatchers with the chance to win prizes. After entering bird counts (data) into the FeederWatch website, participants have the opportunity to share a story, memory, or tip by clicking the […]

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Suggested Prizes from Wild Birds Unlimited

Gift Card winners will need to go into their nearest WBU store to redeem.

  • WBU EcoTough Classic Hopper Feeder with bag of No-Mess Blend 5lbs

    $100 Prize Range
    EcoClean Tube Feeder with bag of No-Mess Blend 20lbs.

    • EcoClean Medium Tube Feeder - Wild Birds Unlimited was the first to launch EcoClean® product protection to the hobby of backyard bird feeding. EcoClean products includes antimicrobial product protection.
    • No-Mess Blend 20lbs - Our No-Mess Blends include a mix of sunflower chips, hulled white millet and shelled peanuts, foods which appeal to birds that eat at the feeder or on the ground. No shells. No mess. 100% edible!
  • WBU EcoTough Classic Hopper Feeder with bag of No-Mess Blend 5lbs

    $100 Prize Range
    WBU EcoTough Classic Hopper Feeder with bag of No-Mess Blend 5lbs.

    • EcoTough Classic Hopper Feeder - EcoTough Classic Bird Feeder. Imagine a wood-free bird feeder that actually looks like wood! Our EcoTough® Classic won't crack, fade or rot and has a lifetime guarantee.
    • No-Mess Blend 5lbs - Our No-Mess Blends include a mix of sunflower chips, hulled white millet and shelled peanuts, foods which appeal to birds that eat at the feeder or on the ground. No shells. No mess. 100% edible!
  • WBU The Eliminator Squirrel Proof Bird Feeder

    $100 Prize Range
    Eliminator

    • Eliminator - The Eliminator Squirrel Proof Bird Feeder. Protect your bird seed bounty from squirrels with our Eliminator™ bird feeder. When a squirrel touches the perch ring, its weight closes the seed ports, foiling its seed-stealing plot.
  • WBU The Eliminator Squirrel Proof Bird Feeder

    $100 Prize Range
    Exclusive WBU foods

    • WBU Bird Food - Try an array of bird foods available exclusively at Wild Birds Unlimited. No bird food attracts more species of birds than Jim's Birdacious® Bark Butter®. Created by Jim Carpenter, founder of Wild Birds Unlimited.
  • WBU APS Basic Setup with a Baffle, EcoClean Seed Tube & EcoClean Finch Feeder

    $250 Prize Range
    APS Basic Setup with a Baffle, EcoClean Seed Tube & EcoClean Finch Feeder, with one 20lbs. bag of seed

    • APS - Our patented, exclusive Advanced Pole System®. Poles stay straight, looks great! Additional pieces are available to customize your bird feeding station. Add the perfect bird feeder to your station to attract your favorite birds. Attach a baffle to deter nuisance critters like squirrels.
    • No-Mess Blends - Our No-Mess Blends include a mix of sunflower chips, hulled white millet and shelled peanuts, foods which appeal to birds that eat at the feeder or on the ground. No shells. No mess. 100% edible!

Weekly Prizes

From the Cornell Lab of Ornithology & Wild Birds Unlimited

Weekly Prizes from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Grand Prizes

First Place

First Place Prizes
  • Framed Charlie Harper print
  • $250 gift certificate to Wild Birds Unlimited
  • Lab Sweatshirt (style subject to change, depending upon size and availability)
  • Lab T-shirt (style subject to change depending upon size and availability)
  • Your choice of 2 Be a Better Birder Courses from the Lab's Bird Academy
  • 2 bags of Birds & Beans Bird Friendly coffee

Second Place

Second Place Prizes

Third Place

Third Place Prizes

2019-20 Contest Schedule

Want to plan your photo submissions and see when contest winners are announced? Here's a peek at the contest schedule for this season.

Photo Contest

Category 1:

Birds with Food, or at the Feeder

Show us your hungry birds!

Submission & voting:
November 11 - 21

Winners: November 29

Category 2:

Spectacular Sparrows

Show us your favorite member of the sparrow family.

Submission & voting:
November 25 - December 5

Winners: December 13

Category 3:

Cardinals and Friends

Show us birds from the cardinal family – that includes grosbeaks, Dickcissels, tanagers, and buntings too!

Submission & voting:
December 9 - December 19

Winners: December 27

Category 4:

Beautiful Blues and Grays

All birds sporting these wintery hues are welcome

Submission & voting:
December 23 - January 2

Winners: January 10

Category 5:

Birds in Flight

Show us some flying birds!

Submission & voting:
January 6 - January 16

Winners: January 24

Category 6:

Splash of Sunshine

In deep winter, we all appreciate a little sun. Let’s see some yellow birds!

Submission & voting:
January 20 - January 30

Winners: February 7

Category 7:

Boring is Beautiful

Birds that some people consider “boring” are the heart of our dataset. Show us your everyday feeder friends!

Submission & voting:
February 3 - February 13

Winners: February 21

Category 8:

Potpourri - Anything goes!

Share that bird photo you have been waiting to post all season

Submission & voting:
February 17 - February 27

Winners: February 28

Grand Prize Voting:
February 29 - March 12

February 29 - March 12

Winners: March 13

Data Entry Contest

Category 1

Submission:
November 9 - 28

Winner: December 6

What’s your favorite bird to see at your feeders? Do you wait all season for a glimpse of it, or does it come every day? Share with us what makes that species so special to see at your feeders!

Category 2

Submission:
November 29 - December 26

Winner: January 3

Antics abound at our feeder sites, whether it is acrobatic squirrels or clumsy birds. Share a laugh-out-loud moment.

Category 3

Submission:
December 27 - January 23

Winner: February 14

There are many ways to improve habitat for wildlife. What do you do to make your backyard a haven for your avian friends?

Category 4

Submission:
January 24 - February 20

Winner: March 6

Do you FeederWatch with someone special, or do you enjoy watching in quiet solitude? Whether it’s with a family member, a pet, or your favorite coffee mug, tell us how you like to FeederWatch!

FeederWatch in the Classroom

Schools winners announced December 20, January 17, and February 14