New Zealand’s only falcon, the kārearea, has been voted the country’s Bird of the Year for 2025, in what organisers described as a rare scandal-free edition of the beloved – and often chaotic – annual poll.
Known for its speed and agility, the kārearea can reach 200km/h when diving to catch prey. With fewer than 8,000 left in the wild, the bird is classified as threatened, vulnerable to predators such as cats and stoats, as well as habitat loss 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 Forest & Bird competition, which aims to raise awareness of New Zealand’s threatened species, drew more than 75,000 verified votes from 123 countries. The kārearea also won in 2012, joining the hoiho and kākāpō as the only two-time champions.
Second place went to the mischievous alpine parrot, the kea, while the tiny black robin, or karure, finished third.
Now in its 20th year, Bird of the Year has often been dogged by controversy – from a bat being named winner in 2021, to Russian “interference” in 2019, and a John Oliver-led global campaign for the pūteketeke in 2023.
Forest & Bird chief executive Nicola Toki said the fun hides a stark reality: “Behind the memes and mayhem is a serious message. Eighty percent of this year’s top 10 are in trouble. Once people know their stories, they care, they advocate and they act.”
