There are so many wildlife photography competitions out there, how do you know which ones are worth your time and effort to enter? I've compiled a list of some competitions worth considering, from the most prestigious to little-known gems.
UK
Amateur Photographer of the Year 2014 www.amateurphotographer.co.uk
BBC Countryfile Photographic competition www.countryfile.com/subject/photographic-competition
British Wildlife Photographer of the Year www.bwpawards.org
British Birds: the BB Bird Photograph of the Year competition http://britishbirds.co.uk/birding-resources/bird-photograph-of-the-year/
International Garden Photographer of the Year “Wildlife in the Garden” category www.igpoty.com/
The Mammal Society Photo Competition www.mammal.org.uk/photo_competition
Marwell Photographer of the Year competition www.marwell.org.uk/photocomp/
(Every two years) National Insect Week photo competition, Royal Entomological Society, http://nationalinsectweek.co.uk/competitions/insect_photography.htm
Outdoor Photographer of the Year www.opoty.co.uk/
Royal Society Publishing Photography Competition celebrates the power of photography to communicate science https://royalsociety.org/journals/photo-competition/
RSPB Photography Contest “Wildpix” www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/families/children/join_in/competitions/wildpix/index.aspx
RSPCA Young Photographer Awards http://ypa.rspca.org.uk/
Society of Biology photography competition www.societyofbiology.org/get-involved/awards-and-competitions/photography-competition
Wildlife Photographer of the Year www.nhm.ac.uk/wildphoto
The Wildlife Trusts offer a range of local competitions www.wildlifetrusts.org/WildlifePhotography
(Occasionally) WWT Wetland Photography www.wwt.org.uk/wetland-centres/experience/photography/
Landscape Photographer of the Year http://www.take-a-view.co.uk/
Travel Photographer of the Year http://www.tpoty.com/
Underwater Photographer of the Year http://www.upylondon.com/
Zoological Society London Animal Photography Prize www.zsl.org/about-us/zsl-animal-photography-prize
Wildlife Photo Contest (Will Burrard Lucas) www.wildlifephoto.com/wildlife-photography-competition
EUROPE
Asferico Photo Contest, Italy www.asferico.com/concorso/e_index.asp
GDT European Wildlife Photographer of the Year, Germany www.gdtfoto.de
World Press Photo Award, Amsterdam, the Netherlands www.worldpressphoto.org/
MontPhoto, Spain http://montphoto.com/website/index.asp
Montier Photo Festival, France www.festiphoto-montier.org
Glanzlichter Projekt Natur + Fotografie, Germany http://www.glanzlichter.com/
Oasis Photo Contest, Italy www.oasisphotocontest.com/index.asp
Siena International Photo Awards (SIPA) https://sipacontest.com
REST OF WORLD
Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year http://naturephotographeroftheyear.com.au/
C4 Photo Safaris http://exploremore.c4photosafaris.com/#enter
Global Arctic Awards International Photography Competition, Russia http://arcticawards.ru/en
Big Picture Natural World Photography Competition, California, USA http://bigpicturecompetition.org/
Golden Turtle international wildlife contest, Moscow http://wncontest.ru/en/about/
Kuwait Grand Photography Contest, Middle East www.kwtphotography.com
National Geographic Traveller Photo Competition, USA
www.natgeotraveller.co.uk/photo-competition-2015/
Nature’s Best Photography Windland Smith Rice International Awards, USA www.naturesbestphotography.com
Nikon Photo Contest, Japan www.nikon-photocontest.com/en
Por el Planeta Wildlife, Nature & Conservation Photo Competition, Mexico
https://porelplanetaphoto.com/
Sony World Photography Awards Nature & Wildlife Category www.worldphoto.org
B&H Wilderness Photo Competition www.wildernessphotocompetition.com/
Audubon Photography Awards www.audubon.org/photoawards
Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest www.smithsonianmag.com/photocontest/?no-ist
National Wildlife Federation Photo Contest www.nwf.org/photocontest.aspx
International Photography Awards www.photoawards.com
International Ocean Art Photo Competition www.uwphotographyguide.com/ocean-art-underwater-photo-competition
Ocean Geographic Pictures of the Year Awards http://ogpicoty.ogsociety.org/
"Wildlife" category of the Hamdan Bin Mohammed Rashid AlMaktoum International Photography award www.hipa.ae/en/happiness-2015-2016/winners
Amateur Photographer of the Year 2014 www.amateurphotographer.co.uk
BBC Countryfile Photographic competition www.countryfile.com/subject/photographic-competition
British Wildlife Photographer of the Year www.bwpawards.org
British Birds: the BB Bird Photograph of the Year competition http://britishbirds.co.uk/birding-resources/bird-photograph-of-the-year/
International Garden Photographer of the Year “Wildlife in the Garden” category www.igpoty.com/
The Mammal Society Photo Competition www.mammal.org.uk/photo_competition
Marwell Photographer of the Year competition www.marwell.org.uk/photocomp/
(Every two years) National Insect Week photo competition, Royal Entomological Society, http://nationalinsectweek.co.uk/competitions/insect_photography.htm
Outdoor Photographer of the Year www.opoty.co.uk/
Royal Society Publishing Photography Competition celebrates the power of photography to communicate science https://royalsociety.org/journals/photo-competition/
RSPB Photography Contest “Wildpix” www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/families/children/join_in/competitions/wildpix/index.aspx
RSPCA Young Photographer Awards http://ypa.rspca.org.uk/
Society of Biology photography competition www.societyofbiology.org/get-involved/awards-and-competitions/photography-competition
Wildlife Photographer of the Year www.nhm.ac.uk/wildphoto
The Wildlife Trusts offer a range of local competitions www.wildlifetrusts.org/WildlifePhotography
(Occasionally) WWT Wetland Photography www.wwt.org.uk/wetland-centres/experience/photography/
Landscape Photographer of the Year http://www.take-a-view.co.uk/
Travel Photographer of the Year http://www.tpoty.com/
Underwater Photographer of the Year http://www.upylondon.com/
Zoological Society London Animal Photography Prize www.zsl.org/about-us/zsl-animal-photography-prize
Wildlife Photo Contest (Will Burrard Lucas) www.wildlifephoto.com/wildlife-photography-competition
EUROPE
Asferico Photo Contest, Italy www.asferico.com/concorso/e_index.asp
GDT European Wildlife Photographer of the Year, Germany www.gdtfoto.de
World Press Photo Award, Amsterdam, the Netherlands www.worldpressphoto.org/
MontPhoto, Spain http://montphoto.com/website/index.asp
Montier Photo Festival, France www.festiphoto-montier.org
Glanzlichter Projekt Natur + Fotografie, Germany http://www.glanzlichter.com/
Oasis Photo Contest, Italy www.oasisphotocontest.com/index.asp
Siena International Photo Awards (SIPA) https://sipacontest.com
REST OF WORLD
Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year http://naturephotographeroftheyear.com.au/
C4 Photo Safaris http://exploremore.c4photosafaris.com/#enter
Global Arctic Awards International Photography Competition, Russia http://arcticawards.ru/en
Big Picture Natural World Photography Competition, California, USA http://bigpicturecompetition.org/
Golden Turtle international wildlife contest, Moscow http://wncontest.ru/en/about/
Kuwait Grand Photography Contest, Middle East www.kwtphotography.com
National Geographic Traveller Photo Competition, USA
www.natgeotraveller.co.uk/photo-competition-2015/
Nature’s Best Photography Windland Smith Rice International Awards, USA www.naturesbestphotography.com
Nikon Photo Contest, Japan www.nikon-photocontest.com/en
Por el Planeta Wildlife, Nature & Conservation Photo Competition, Mexico
https://porelplanetaphoto.com/
Sony World Photography Awards Nature & Wildlife Category www.worldphoto.org
B&H Wilderness Photo Competition www.wildernessphotocompetition.com/
Audubon Photography Awards www.audubon.org/photoawards
Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest www.smithsonianmag.com/photocontest/?no-ist
National Wildlife Federation Photo Contest www.nwf.org/photocontest.aspx
International Photography Awards www.photoawards.com
International Ocean Art Photo Competition www.uwphotographyguide.com/ocean-art-underwater-photo-competition
Ocean Geographic Pictures of the Year Awards http://ogpicoty.ogsociety.org/
"Wildlife" category of the Hamdan Bin Mohammed Rashid AlMaktoum International Photography award www.hipa.ae/en/happiness-2015-2016/winners
If I've missed off any great wildlife photo competitions, do let me know!