The Finches and Chats competition was held in March-May 2020.  There were 29 species eligible for entry to this competition, and all but six of those were represented in the entries.  Those missing were Pale-headed Munia (a vagrant, which we have no images of), Java Sparrow, Black-throated Finch, Blue-faced Parrot-Finch, Gibberbird, and - somewhat surprisingly - European Greenfinch.

The results of member voting for the top five images in each category are listed here.  This competition received good support from the membership, with 209 images entered across the 3 competition levels by 97 photographers.  The Winner is the image which received the most votes; and we also show the next four highest placed images, rating them as Highly Commended if they received at least 90% of the votes for the winning image, and Commended for scores less than that.

Advanced Level – Finches and Chats

This category attracted 71 entries, from 22 photographers. 39 members voted, with the following result:

• Winner - Diamond Firetail, by John Cooper (Image ID 39894)
• Commended - Diamond Firetail, by Brian O'Leary (Image ID 39846)
• Commended - Orange Chat, by Wilson Lennard (Image no longer available)
• Commended - Crimson Chat, by Steve Mantle (Image ID 40507)
• Commended - Crimson Chat, by Scott Rolph (Image ID 40469)

Intermediate Level – Finches and Chats

This category attracted 84 entries, from 36 photographers. 45 members voted, with the following result:

• Winner - Orange Chat, by Linda Unwin (Image ID 40386)
• Highly Commended - Double-barred Finch, by Gregory Griffiths (Image ID 39718)
• Commended - Crimson Chat, by Les George (Image ID 39986)
• Commended - Beautiful Firetail, by Chris Young (Image ID 40482)
• Commended - Yellow Chat, by Chris Young (Image ID 40221)

Entry Level – Finches and Chats

This category attracted 54 entries, from 20 photographers. 39 members voted, with the following result:

• Winner - Double-barred Finch, by Russell Dann (Image ID 40366)
• Commended - Chestnut-breasted Mannikin, by Graham Gall (Image ID 39771)
• Commended - Gouldian Finch, by Lynette English (Image ID 40487)
• Commended - Zebra Finch, by Diana Womersley (Image no longer available)
• Commended - Zebra Finch, by Diana Womersley (Image ID 40088)