New Zealand’s only falcon, the threatened kārearea, has been crowned Bird of the Year 2025 in a scandal-free edition of the country’s beloved avian competition.
Known for reaching speeds of up to 200km/h in pursuit of prey, the kārearea is a powerful aerial hunter with sharp talons and striking dark eyes. It is also the country’s only remaining endemic raptor, with just 5,000–8,000 individuals left in the wild.
“The kārearea is just a stunning bird,” said Emma Blackburn, chair of the Karearea Falcon Trust. “It’s our only remaining endemic raptor and a really important part of our ecosystem.”
Despite its prowess, the falcon is vulnerable. Ground-nesting habits make its eggs easy targets for introduced predators such as cats, stoats and hedgehogs, while habitat loss, collisions with power lines, and vineyard netting add to the threats.
Run by conservation group Forest and Bird, the Bird of the Year contest aims to raise awareness of New Zealand’s fragile native birdlife, much of which has been decimated by human activity and invasive species. This year’s poll drew more than 75,000 verified votes from 123 countries.
The kārearea, which also won in 2012, joins the hoiho and the kākāpō as the only birds to have taken the crown twice. The kea, New Zealand’s cheeky alpine parrot, came second, while the tiny black robin, the karure, placed third.
Unlike previous years, the 2025 contest avoided major controversies — from Russian hacking claims in 2019 to a bat controversially winning in 2021. Still, spirited online campaigns were waged for all 73 contenders.
“Behind the memes and mayhem is a serious message,” said Nicola Toki, Forest and Bird’s chief executive. “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.”
