Ruthless Raptor Devours Competition: Wins New Zealand’s Annual Bird Election!

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealand’s beloved annual bird contest sees a variety of participants, ranging from playful parrots to melodious songbirds and adorable, fluffy robins. This year, the title was snagged by a formidable falcon known for its predatory prowess.

The bird, known in the Indigenous Māori language as Kārearea, or the New Zealand falcon, clinched the Bird of the Year title on Monday. Organized by the conservation group Forest & Bird, this event is far from just a simple online poll.

Human volunteers sign up as campaign managers to champion their chosen bird. The competition heats up as bird lovers use memes, striking posters, and even dance performances in bird costumes to win public favor.

“The Bird of the Year started as a modest email survey in 2005 and has evolved into a fiercely contested cultural phenomenon,” stated Nicola Toki, Chief Executive of Forest & Bird. “Amidst the fun and chaos, there’s an underlying important message.”

A Celebration of Avian Life

The competition highlights the plight of New Zealand’s native birds, with 80% of them considered at risk to varying extents. The contest is particularly engaging because New Zealanders have a profound fascination with birds.

New Zealand, a nation with no native land mammals besides two bat species, is a kingdom where birds dominate. These creatures are celebrated in local art, jewelry, children’s songs, and even in the international nickname for New Zealanders, “Kiwis.”

Some of the crowd favorites are mountain parrots known for their antics with tourists, and pigeons that occasionally intoxicate themselves on berries to the point of tumbling from trees.

“This isn’t a country of lions, tigers, and bears,” Toki explained. “Our birds are unique and fascinating, unlike what you might find elsewhere.”

A Smooth and Fair Election

The inaugural competition two decades ago saw participation from less than 900 voters. This year, over 75,000 out of the nation’s 5 million people cast their votes, marking the highest turnout ever, excluding one anomaly.

That exception occurred when John Oliver, host of Last Week Tonight, featured the contest, leading to humorous allegations of American meddling from New Zealanders. Oliver’s favorite, the pūteketeke or Australasian crested grebe, won that year by a staggering 290,000 votes.

Other controversies have also marred the competition. In 2021, there was a slight uproar when a bat clinched the title, despite not being a bird. In 2018, the competition faced issues with fraudulent votes from Australia, leading to the requirement for voters to verify their email addresses. This year, Forest & Bird confirmed that 87% of votes came from within New Zealand, with the falcon winning over 14,500 votes convincingly.

The Enigmatic Champion

The majestic kārearea, capable of flying at over 200 km/h (124 mph), is adept at hunting, often targeting smaller birds. This species is endemic to New Zealand but faces threats such as electrocution from power lines and loss of forest habitats.

“They are an enigmatic species, partly due to their elusive nature,” said Phil Bradfield, a trustee of the Kārearea Falcon Trust in Marlborough, on New Zealand’s South Island. He noted that while estimates suggest there are between 5,000 and 8,000 of these falcons left, the actual number remains uncertain. Bradfield described the raptor as “fast, sneaky, and very special,” making it a worthy winner of this year’s title.

Cheering for the Underdogs

Meanwhile, supporters of less popular birds knew their chances were slim. Birds that are neither strikingly ugly nor comically so, or those considered dull or lesser-known, faced a challenging campaign.

Yet, this did not dampen the spirits of devoted bird enthusiasts. For the first time in 2025, every one of the 73 bird candidates had a human campaign manager, some fully aware their chosen birds had little chance of winning.

Marc Daalder, a political journalist and veteran of three bird campaigns, managed the campaign for the tākapu, or Australasian gannet, which garnered 962 votes—a fraction of what the falcon achieved. “Leading a campaign for an underdog bird offers a gratifying experience, knowing that each vote is earned through dedicated effort,” Daalder remarked.

A Vital Conservation Message

Despite the impressive voter turnout, Toki expressed concern that New Zealanders might start neglecting the most endangered species as conservation becomes more costly, especially in managing predators like cats, rats, and stoats.

“Successive governments have gradually reduced conservation funding, which is fundamental to New Zealand’s economic well-being,” she explained, highlighting the significance of native birds and their habitats in attracting tourists. “People visit to experience our unique wildlife and pristine environments, not our shopping centers,” she emphasized.