New Zealand’s only falcon, the kārearea, has been voted Bird of the Year in the country’s beloved annual poll, securing the title for the second time after first winning in 2012.
Known as the nation’s fastest bird, the kārearea can reach speeds of up to 200km/h while hunting prey, which range from small mammals and lizards to birds larger than itself. With just 5,000 to 8,000 left in the wild, the species remains threatened, facing dangers from habitat loss, predators such as cats and stoats, and collisions with power lines and buildings.
“The kārearea is just a stunning bird,” said Emma Blackburn, chair of the Kārearea Falcon Trust. “It’s our only remaining endemic raptor and a really important part of our ecosystem.”
The competition, organised by Forest and Bird, drew more than 75,000 verified votes from 123 countries this year. While recent editions have been marred by hijinks – including a bat being crowned winner in 2021 and John Oliver’s viral campaign for the pūteketeke in 2023 – this year passed without scandal.
The kārearea finished ahead of the kea, New Zealand’s mischievous alpine parrot, and the karure, a rare black robin from the Chatham Islands.
Forest and Bird chief executive Nicola Toki highlighted the contest’s deeper message: “This year’s top 10 matches the statistics exactly – 80% of them are in trouble. People fall in love with these birds – and once they know their stories, they care, they advocate and they act.”
The kārearea now joins the hoiho and kākāpō as one of only three species to win the award twice.
