SUMMARY
Photographer Gail Bisson has won the Female Bird Prize in the 2026 Audubon Photography Awards for her striking image of a female Common Merganser flying with a flatfish in its beak. The award-winning photograph was taken in Nova Scotia, Canada, on a cold winter day. Bisson, who pursued bird photography after retiring as a doctor, captured the moment as the merganser defended its catch from other birds. The image was shot using a Canon EOS R5 Mark II and a Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS III USM lens at 1/2500sec.
TAKEAWAYS
Gail Bisson won the 2026 Audubon Photography Awards Female Bird Prize.
The winning photo features a Common Merganser in flight with a flatfish.
The image was captured in Nova Scotia, Canada, using a Canon EOS R5 Mark II.
The shot was taken at a fast shutter speed of 1/2500sec to freeze the action.