Kārearea New Zealand falcon crowned 2025 Bird of the Year
Monday, 29 September 2025
After an early lead, the kārearea New Zealand falcon has soared to the top, claiming the crown in the 20th anniversary Bird of the Year competition.
This milestone year drew record engagement, with more than 75,000 voters from 123 countries backing their favourite native birds online. Every one of the 73 birds in the running had a volunteer campaign manager, producing a flurry of hand-drawn posters, reels and memes that captured national attention.
From the Reserve Bank to a clutch of Hobbit actors, Kiwis and fans abroad showed just how deeply they connect with the country’s manu.
“Bird of the Year has grown from a simple email poll in 2005 to a hotly contested cultural moment for Aotearoa,” Forest & Bird chief executive Nicola Toki said.
The kārearea, a high-speed hunter capable of diving at 200kph, faces threats from habitat loss and predation. Its campaign, managed by Caitlin Pieta from Auto Mossa, drew strong public support. “It’s been a privilege to champion such a remarkable manu, and we’ve loved seeing the public get behind it,” Pieta said.
The 2025 win puts the kārearea in an elite group of repeat champions over the past two decades, joining birds like the hoiho, which won in 2019 and 2024, and the kākāpō, crowned in 2008 and 2020.
The karure black robin, narrowly missing out for the second year in a row, climbed from fifth to third place, while the kea took second.
The 20th anniversary celebrations include the launch of Waiata Manu, a project that will see songwriter Troy Kingi compose a track for the kārearea, a new book chronicling two decades of the competition, and the Birdle NZ game, which has quickly gained a cult following.
While the contest is known for its humour and creativity, Forest & Bird emphasises that conservation remains at the heart of the campaign. Eight of this year’s top 10 birds are in serious trouble, including the nationally critical kākāpō and karure black robin, each with fewer than 300 individuals remaining.
“Habitat destruction, climate change and introduced predators continue to push many species towards extinction – but public awareness can be powerful,” Toki said.
“People fall in love with these birds – and once they know their stories, they care, they advocate and they act.”
2025 Top Three Birds of the Year
Kārearea | New Zealand falcon – 14,317 votes | In serious trouble
Kea – 12,506 votes | In serious trouble
Karure | Black robin – 11,726 votes | In serious trouble