About

Bio

Hector Cordero is a prominent scientist, bilingual birding guide, and award-winning conservation photographer, formerly based in New York (US) and currently residing in Spain. He specializes in capturing birdlife, endangered species, and the impact of man-made structures and habitat loss on conservation efforts. Devoted to conservation, Hector works with local organizations and rehab centers to raise awareness about the threats to birdlife in sensitive areas.

Hector has conducted photography workshops, given talks on radio and TV, and oral presentations about ornithology and bird photography for different organizations (contact if you are interested in a talk or workshop). His work has been featured in numerous exhibitions worldwide and he regularly collaborates with various magazines and journals. In addition, he has recently published his first two books about the birds of New York called “Central Park: Four Seasons of Birdlife” (English edition) and “Central Park: Aves en sus Cuatro Estaciones” (Spanish edition).

The quality of his work is evident through the numerous international recognitions he has received, having been awarded in some of the most prestigious international wildlife photography contests (see the full list below). He also serves as a jury member of several international wildlife and conservation photography contests.


Awards

-Winner of the Fritz Pölking Prize in the European Wildlife Photographer of the Year (2024)      https://www.gdtfoto.de/seiten/fritz-poelking-prize-2024.html

-First prize in the category “Nature Portfolio” in Montphoto-AEFONA Nature Photography Contest (2024) 

-Finalist in the category “Photojournalism” in the 22nd Bird Photography Contest Emotion’Ailes (2024) 

-Highly commended in the category “Mangroves and Threats” in the Mangrove Photography Awards (2024) 

-Top100 of “Audubon Photography Awards” (2024)        https://www.audubon.org/magazine/2024-audubon-photo-awards-top-100

-Winner of the XIV Edition Festival de las Aves de Caceres (2024)

-Honorable mention in the category “Portrait” in FIO International Photography Contest (2024)      https://www.fioextremadura.es/concurso-fotografico-fio/

-Finalist in the category “Portrait” in FIO International Photography Contest (2024)

-Special Conservation Award “Jose Antonio Valverde” by AEFONA (2023)      https://www.aefona.org/hector-cordero-premio-jose-antonio-valverde-conservacion-2023/

-Excellence Award in the category “Human and Nature” of the China Wildlife Image and Video Competition (2023)  

-Gold Award in the category “Birds” of Montphoto-AEFONA Nature Photography Contest (2023)      

-Winner in the category “Human and Nature” of the Montier International Wildlife and Nature Photo Competition (2023)   

-Honorable mention in the category “Art in Nature” of the Golden Turtle International Contest (2023)

-Honor Award in the category “Birds” of the Montphoto International Nature Photography Contest (2023)   

-Top100 of “Audubon Photography Awards” (2023)     https://www.audubon.org/news/2023-audubon-photography-awards-top-100

-Finalist in the category “Bird’s portrait” of DBF Photo Contest (2022)

-Finalist in the category “Other animals” of Nature Photographer of the Year (2022)

-Top100 of “Audubon Photography Awards” (2022)    https://www.audubon.org/news/the-2022-audubon-photography-awards-top-100

-Second place in the category “Animals in their environment” in the Golden Turtle International Contest (2022)

-Winner in the category “Wood if you could” in the International King Birder Contest (2022)

-Finalist in the category “Year in Red” in the 19th Bird Photo Contest Emotion’Ailes (2021)    https://www.exposaves.be/en/nominated-2021/

-Finalist in the category “Other animals” in the International AEFONA Contest (2021) 

-Top shot in the category “It’s a shore thing!” in the International King Birder Contest (2020)