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The information in each essay for each photograph was written by Juanita N. Baker based on The Cornell University Laboratory articles periodically updated by scientists on each bird species, The Birds of the World (BW). The BW series is produced as a collaborative effort of the American Ornithology Union, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, and Academy of Natural Sciences. Much credit goes to the authors and many scientists who did the research and published the references. Please subscribe to The Birds of the World if you want more in-depth information on any bird species.
Birds Need Plants Photo Contest Winners
Click on the links below to see the winning photographs.
The Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology’s All About Birds has a great website to learn more about birds of North America and has marvelous videos. You also learn much basic data on every bird along with calls and a map of location, see their website: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/browse_tax.aspx
And view Cornell’s Lab of Ornithology: Building Photography Skills
Scroll through the latest Birds Need Plants Photo Contest winners.
2023
2022
- December – Alice Horst – Ruby-throated Hummingbird
- November – Dee Simpson – Common Nighthawk
- October – Henry W. Young, II – Bobolink
- September – Brent Henderson – Prothonotary Warbler
- May – Bob Montanaro – Osprey
- April – Ken Janes – Florida Scrub-Jay
- March – Lou Lower – Tricolored Heron
- February – John A. Middleton, Jr. – Red-headed Woodpecker
- January – John Wolaver – Mockingbird
2021
- November – Rebecca Smith – Limpkin
- October – Juanita N. Baker, Ph.D. – Cooper’s hawk
- September – Sandy Peterson – Black-necked Stilt
- May – Andy Liu, Ph.D. – Wilson’s Snipe
- April – Richard H. Baker, Ph.D. – Blue-winged Teal
- March – Becky Loftus – Blue-headed Vireo
- February – John Wolaver – Palm Warbler
- January – Logan Peralta – Common Yellowthroat
2020
- September – Ellie Van Os – Black-Bellied Whistling-Duck
- August – Don Rhodes – Osprey
- July – Dawn Currie – Snail Kite
- June – Barbara Surman – Great Horned Owl
- May – Ed McCool – Loggerhead Shrike
Previous Bird of the Month Contest Winners
2019
- November – Rebecca Smith – Tufted Titmouse
- September – John A. Middleton, Jr. – Eastern Bluebird
- May – Hart Rufe – White-crowned Pigeon
- April – Andrew Liu – Bonaparte’s Gull
- March – Becky Loftus – Bachman’s Sparrow
- February – John Moran – Lesser Scaup
- January – Mark Smith – Wood Duck
2018
- November – Dennis Huff – Great Blue Heron
- October – Collin Ross – American Flamingo
- September – Reinhard Geisler – Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher
- May – Bill Capie – White Ibis
- April – Maria Heffernan – Grasshopper Sparrow
- March – J. R. Williams – Double-crested Cormorant
- February – Mark J. Eden – Blackpoll Warbler
- January – Arlene Willnow – Pied-billed Grebe
2017
- December – Arlene Willnow – Roseate Spoonbill
- November – John J. Waite – Yellow-rumped Warbler
- May – Yvonne Tso – American Robin
- March – Maria Heffernan – Northern Bobwhite
- February – William Lewis Johnson – Western Spindalis
- January – Barbara Whitlam – American Coot
2016
- December – Dawn Currie – Reddish Egret
- November – Edward McCool – Little Blue Heron
- October – Joseph F. Pescatore – Northern Parula
- September – Arlene Willnow – Great Egret
- August – Bob Montanaro – Common Gallinule
- April – Ellie Van Os – Tree Swallows
- March – Joseph F. Pescatore – Common Ground Dove
- February – Cara Woods – Northern Gannet
- January – Bob Montanaro – Mourning Dove
2015
- December – John Middleton, Jr. – Northern Cardinal
- November – Douglas Lange – Mute Swan
- September – J. R. Williams – Red-winged Blackbird
- August – Mac Stone – Snail Kite
- June – Richard H. Baker – Pied-billed Grebe
- May – Andy Liu – Anhinga
- April – Dawn Currie – Brown Noddies
- March – Maria Heffernan – King Rail
- February – Hart Rufe – Belted Kingfisher
- January – Donald Schuster – Bald Eagle
2014
- December – Peter Connelly – Eastern Screech Owl
- November – Robert Feldberg – Royal Tern
- October – J. R. Williams – Killdeer
- September – Danny Bales – Red-bellied Woodpecker
- August – Thelma Eliza Gatuzzo – Black Skimmer
- July – Jennifer Lanam – Roseate Spoonbill
- May – Tim Towles – Crested Caracara
- April – Karen Schuster – Cattle Egret
- March – Lisa Willnow – Wood Stork
- February – G. Lee Benson – Ruby-throated Hummingbird
- January – Milton Heiberg – Fish Crow
2013
- December – John Waite – Eastern Phoebe
- November – Susan King – Tricolored Heron
- October – Richard H. Baker – Green Heron
- September – J. R. Williams – Black Vulture
- August – Reinier Munguia – Barred Owl
- July – Mark J. Eden – Northern Parula
- June – Bob Montanaro – Northern Mockingbird
- May – Maria Heffernan – Red-shouldered Hawk
- April – Crystal Samuel – Swallow-tailed Kite
- March – Don Schuster – Least Bittern
- February – Karen Schuster – Great Blue Heron
- January – Dawn Currie – Bufflehead
2012
- December – Lisa Willnow – Tricolored Heron
- November – Sam Fried – Sandhill Crane
- October – Crystal Samuel – Barn Owl
- September – J. R. Williams – Common Nighthawk
- August – Lynn Walsh – Florida Scrub-Jay
- May – Mary Lou Christy – Sanderling
- April – Donald Schuster – Pileated Woodpecker
- March – Stephanie Black – Magnificent Frigatebird
- February – J. R. Williams – Limpkin
- January – Dawn Currie – Hooded Merganser
2011
- December – John Waite – American Oystercatcher
- October – Lisa Willnow – Little Blue Heron
- August – Susan King – Black-bellied Whistling-Duck
- July – Linda Leonard – Roseate Spoonbill
- June – Crystal Samuel – Gray Catbird
- May – J. R. Williams – Black-necked Stilt
- April – Donald Schuster – Great Blue Heron
- March – Yvonne Lee Tso – Brown Thrasher
- January – John Waite – Black-bellied Whistling-Duck
2010
- November – Arlene Willnow – Brown Pelican
- October – Dawn Currie – Brown Pelican
- September – Lisa Willnow – Snowy Egret
- May – Mark Mittleman – Reddish Egret
- April – Sarah Kappel – Mottled Duck
- March – John Waite – Osprey
- February – Douglas Lange – White Pelican
- January – Don Morris – Wood Stork
2009