2024 Hummingbird Photo Contest Winners

We invited readers to send us their best hummingbird photos for our 2024 Hummingbird Photo Contest.

For the contest, we received hundreds of extraordinary entries. Our editorial team narrowed it down to several finalists and voted for three winners. We are happy to announce that Jim Nelson’s gorgeous photo of a broad-billed hummingbird was selected as the grand prize winner.

First Place

Courtesy Jim Nelson

Jim Nelson of Las Vegas Nevada, won first place.

“While at the Boyce Thompson Arboretum close to Superior, Arizona, I was outside their cactus garden area. The blooms had attracted this male broad-billed hummingbird. It had staked out several adjacent blooming areas and was busy accosting and chasing off all other hummers that came close,” Jim says.

“I have many perched hummingbird photos, but this one is special. It was a cloudy day, with just enough light to capture the rich feather detail in this bird as it was surveying its territory. Broad-bills are some of the most colorful birds on the planet and I was lucky enough to catch it in a perfect pose displaying its brilliant green-blue coloration,” he adds.

Second Place

Courtesy Lisa Swanson

Second prize goes to Lisa Swanson of Richland Center, Wisconsin.

“I chose this photo because this young male Anna’s hummingbird looked like he got into some paint,” Lisa says.

Third Place

Courtesy Carol Holliday

Carol Holliday of Robinson, Illinois, won third place in the photo contest.

“I was thrilled to see this adult male ruby-throated hummingbird attracted to my bleeding heart plant this year!” says Carol. “He arrived mid-April to my home in Illinois and decided to stay. The male’s red gorget is always a showstopper, and him being on my favorite flower makes this picture even more special.”

How to Enter Your Photo or Video

Thanks for the hundreds of Birds & Blooms readers who submitted entries. Here’s some more exciting news! We have even more photo and video contests planned. Check our contests page for more details on how to enter upcoming and current contests and to read the official rules.

Next, don’t miss the amazing winner of the 2023 Birds & Blooms Photo Contest.