Tiny endangered black robin wins New Zealand’s Bird of the Year

This handout photo on September 21, 2026 shows the critically endangered black robin on a branch on Chatham Island. A record number of New Zealanders turned out at the polls this September 2026, not for national elections but to vote for their Bird of the Year — the critically endangered black robin. — Enzo M. R. Reyes/Royal Forest & Bird Society of New Zealand handout pic via AFP

First Published: Monday, 21 Sep 2026 9:00 PM MYT

WELLINGTON, Sept 21 — A record number of New Zealanders turned out at the polls this month, not for national elections but to vote for their Bird of the Year — the critically endangered black robin.

The diminutive native lives on the remote Chatham Islands, 800 kilometres (500 miles) off the South Island’s east coast.

In 1980, only five of the birds remained, including a single breeding female. Now there are about 350.

The black robin topped the pecking order ahead of the famed flightless parrot, the kakapo, and the native karearea falcon, which came in second and third.

The annual Bird of the Year competition is run by independent conservation organisation Forest and Bird, and has been the subject of significant controversy in the past decade.

In 2019 there were accusations of Russian interference after hundreds of votes were registered from IP addresses in the country.

Forest and Bird deemed most of the votes were legitimate, and said it did not affect the victory of the hoiho, or yellow-eyed penguin.

In 2023 the puteketeke won the title after receiving the celebrity backing of Last Week Tonight comedian John Oliver, who urged his viewers to vote for the lake dweller.

Forest and Bird’s Rebecca Hatch said voter numbers had soared this year, but not due to foreign interference.

“This year has seen record numbers of votes with 105,000 people choosing their favourite,” Hatch said.

“New Zealanders have really shown up for nature. Roughly one in every 50 Kiwis voted,” she said, referring to the country’s people and not the native, flightless birds.

The black robin received more than 26,000 votes.

The Chatham Islands Landscape Restoration Trust ran the campaign for the black robin and is seeking to create a third habitat for the birds to expand their biodiversity. — AFP