Daniel Muscat, Sulphur-Crested Cockatoo Portrait (SINGLE SHOT 2026)

This portrait of a Sulphur-crested Cockatoo was captured in Spring Farm, NSW, on a cloudy morning while returning from a walk with my camera. Along the edge of a bush reserve, I came across a small group of cockatoos, where one landed on a fence post beneath the soft, overcast sky. Remaining calm and curious, the cockatoo watched my presence as I carefully captured this quiet encounter. This photograph highlights the inquisitive personality of an Australian native bird and celebrates the unexpected connections we can experience with wildlife in our own local surroundings. Shot on my Canon R6 Mark II with a Canon RF 70–200mm f/2.8 lens.

Images have been resized for web display, which may cause some loss of image quality. Note: Original high-resolution images are used for judging.