The more than 5,500 photos entered in this year's contest, our eighth, show birdlife at its most vivid, vulnerable, formidable, and elegant. Photographers from 49 states and eight Canadian provinces submitted images in three categories: professional, amateur, and youth. While it wasn't easy whittling those down, the following seven images proved exceptional. The category winners, in addition to garnering cash and trip prizes, are being displayed within the 2017 Nature’s Best Photography Exhibition at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. Judges Kenn Kaufman: Bird-guide author, 吃瓜黑料 field editor Melissa Groo: Professional photographer and 2015 Grand Prize winner Steve Freligh: Co-publisher of Nature's Best Photography Kevin Fisher: 吃瓜黑料 creative director Sabine Meyer: 吃瓜黑料 photography director Judging criteria: Technical quality, originality, artistic merit Grand Prize Winner Deborah Albert 1318 Species: Gentoo...