- In 2026, the black robin won Bird of the Year with a record 105,000 votes, receiving more than 26,000 votes.
- 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.
- By the 1970s, only five black robins remained, with just one breeding pair (Old Blue and Old Yellow).
- A conservation project using foster parents helped the population climb to 350 adult birds.
- The black robin has been in the top five for the past few years but never clinched a win.
The black robin, once the world’s rarest bird, has been crowned New Zealand’s Bird of the Year 2026, receiving over 26,000 votes in a record turnout of 105,000.1
Found only in the Chatham Islands, this tiny bird was nearly extinct in the 1980s, with just five individuals remaining, including a single breeding pair: Old Blue and Old Yellow.
Conservation efforts have successfully increased their population to around 350, although they remain classified as threatened.
Jess Mackenzie, spokesperson for the Chatham Islands Landscape Restoration Trust, noted, “They are really cute,” adding that the black robin has consistently ranked among the top five birds in the competition but had never won until now.5
The annual Bird of the Year competition, organized by Forest and Bird, saw participation from about 88% of voters in New Zealand, with “one in every 50 Kiwis” casting a ballot, according to Hatch.
The black robin triumphed over other notable contenders, including the kakapo and karearea falcon, which placed second and third, respectively.2
Despite this victory, Mackenzie cautioned that the black robin is “not saved yet,” as habitat on their islands is nearly at capacity, highlighting the need for a third pest-free island for their continued survival.
“It’s a bird that New Zealanders definitely love and know,” Mackenzie said, emphasizing the importance of ongoing conservation efforts to ensure the species thrives in the future.
“The black robin, found only on the Chatham Islands, received over 26,000 votes, beating the kakapo and karearea. Despite the win, the species remains threatened, and conservationists say a third pest-free island is needed to secure its future.”
The Guardian
