Archive · 22 Sep 2026
Black Robin Wins New Zealand’s Bird of the Year 2026
The black robin is a small bird from New Zealand’s Chatham Islands.
It is also called the karure or Chatham Island black robin.
In a nationwide bird competition, people voted for their favorite bird.
The black robin received more than 25,000 votes.
That was enough to beat the kākāpō and the New Zealand falcon.
More than 105,000 people voted in total.
This was the biggest turnout the competition has ever had.
Most voters were from New Zealand.
The result made the black robin the country’s Bird of the Year for 2026.
The black robin, also known as the karure, won New Zealand’s Bird of the Year 2026 competition.
The bird received more than 25,000 votes, finishing ahead of the kākāpō and New Zealand falcon.
The black robin is a small, shy bird from the remote Chatham Islands.
More than 105,000 people voted, making it the competition’s biggest turnout.
About 88% of votes came from within New Zealand, with roughly one in 50 New Zealanders participating.
- Who
- The black robin, also known as the karure or Chatham Island black robin, won the competition.
- What
- It was named New Zealand’s Bird of the Year 2026 after receiving more than 25,000 votes.
- When
- The competition took place in 2026.
- Where
- The competition was held in New Zealand; the winning bird comes from the Chatham Islands.
- Why
- The black robin won because it received the most votes among the competing birds.
- Winner
- Black robin, also known as the karure
- Competition
- New Zealand’s Bird of the Year 2026
- Winning votes
- More than 25,000
- Total turnout
- More than 105,000 voters
- Other leading birds
- The kākāpō and the New Zealand falcon
- Domestic voting share
- About 88% of votes came from within New Zealand
- Participation rate
- Roughly one in every 50 New Zealanders voted