Bird of the Year 2026

Created by conservation organisation Forest & Bird, the campaign uses humour and friendly competition to help people discover New Zealand’s native birds and the habitats they depend on.

There is a serious purpose behind the fun. More than 80% of New Zealand’s native bird species are in some or serious trouble. Each vote helps put a bird, its habitat and the people working to protect it in the spotlight.

In 2026, Forest & Bird has added a light-hearted election theme, grouping the birds into six fictional parties.  

Meet the parties

From ocean voyagers to quiet undergrowth dwellers, the birds have grouped themselves into six parties. Here is how Forest & Bird introduces each flock.

Sea Birds “We want you”

The ocean-goers are crossing seas, surviving storms and navigating huge distances to make it home. Their campaign puts rising seas, warming oceans, plastic pollution and fishing lines firmly on the agenda. Unlike some parties, they do not feed voters lines. They avoid them, especially longlines.

Tree Birds “Let’s grow together”

The forest chorus is putting down roots. These guardians of the ngahere, or forest, want to bring the dawn chorus back to forests, backyards and neighbourhoods across the motu, or country. Their platform is simple: strong forests mean cleaner water, healthier ecosystems and more homes for manu, or birds.

Shore Birds “It’s a shore thing”

Wetland, coastal, riverbed, estuary and lakeside birds have banded together over their shared love of the water’s edge. Their habitats are the marginal seats of nature, squeezed by development, sea-level rise, predators, dogs and people who mistake nesting areas for parking spaces. Their promise is to shore up support for life at the waterline.

Floor Birds “Ready to take the floor”

With their feet firmly on the ground, the grassroots movement represents icons, underbirds, flightless battlers and some of the rarest birds in the country. They may not soar over mountain peaks, but they know how to win hearts, headlines and elections, building support from the ground up.

Shy Birds “Once bittern, twice shy”

The quiet caucus is not interested in billboards or shouting from the treetops. Its members know that survival can mean staying quiet, keeping hidden and doing the hard mahi, or work, in wetlands, scrub and forest undergrowth. Their message: do not underestimate the power of subtlety.

High Birds “Let’s soar to new heights”

Representing the high country and open skies, these birds were born for the spotlight. They soar over mountains and thrive where others would not last five minutes. While the Shy Birds keep a low profile, the High Birds say they are leading from above and asking voters to aim higher.

A vote for the birds

Behind the friendly rivalries and political puns is an invitation to learn about the wildlife found nowhere else, and the people working to help it thrive. Bird of the Year turns conservation into a conversation that anyone can join, whether they live in New Zealand or are discovering its wildlife from the other side of the world.

Voting is free and open to everyone from 9am on 4 September until 20 September 2026. The winning bird and favourite flock will be revealed on 21 September.

Choose your candidate and cast your vote at birdoftheyear.org.nz

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