Birds, horses, dogs, bears and more. These are the best animal photos we’ve seen this month!

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The International Amateur Photographer of the Year 2026 competition has revealed its top 10 animal images. Lourdes Venard captured the grand prize with her photograph "Tulip Time," showing a savannah sparrow perched among yellow and red tulips. Young photographer River Keats Kedzier-Hurst claimed first place in the competition's Young APOY category.

The winners demonstrate how animals consistently fascinate photographers. From majestic lions to mischievous puppies, photographers are drawn to an animal's majesty, playfulness, and unexpected behavior. Some venture to remote locations while others capture wildlife closer to home.

Patience, knowledge of the environment, and timing are key to great animal photography. Long lenses and exotic settings are helpful but not always necessary. The Animal Kingdom round of the competition is always popular.

Below are brief descriptions of the top 10 winning animal images:

1. Tulip Time by Lourdes Venard - This vibrant image features a savannah sparrow singing amidst a field of colorful tulips. The photographer used a Canon EOS R10 with a 150-600mm lens at 500mm, 1/1000 sec, f/6.3, and ISO 320 to capture the bird's colorful plumage against the yellow and red backdrop.

2. Malachite by Paul Fine - Paul's photo of a malachite butterfly demonstrates that sometimes less is more. The composition focuses on the butterfly's delicate patterns against a clean green background. The Canon EOS-1D X Mark II with a 100-400mm lens at 400mm, 1/2000 sec, f/13, and ISO 12800 produced an exceptionally sharp, beautifully composed image.

3. Hungry Hoopoe by Cam Parfitt - This whimsical image captures a hoopoe bird bringing food to its chick in the nest. The SONY ILCE-1M2 with a 600mm lens at 1/4000 sec, f/6.3, and ISO 5000 froze the moment perfectly. The textured tree trunk and soft background helped frame the birds' interaction.

4. Onaqui Silhouette by Dave Olsen - Dave's black and white silhouette photograph of two horses rearing up in a dust-filled field creates a powerful, atmospheric image. The Canon EOS 80D with a 70-200mm lens at 191mm, 1/400 sec, f/4.5, and ISO 100 captured the horses' mirrored poses and the glowing dust for a mood-filled composition.