Australia’s Tawny Frogmouth Wins Bird of the Year After Three Runner-Up Finishes
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📰 The quick summary: The tawny frogmouth has been crowned Australia’s 2025 Bird of the Year after three consecutive second-place finishes, highlighting the importance of Australia’s unique avian biodiversity.
📈 One key stat: Over 310,000 votes were cast in the poll, with the tawny frogmouth receiving 11,851 votes in the final round, showcasing widespread public engagement with native bird conservation.
💬 One key quote: “It’s a delight to be involved in something that feels celebratory and fun, and perhaps a little silly … it reminds people about how wonderful our bird life is, but how precarious so many of our species are,” Sean Dooley from Birdlife Australia said.
1️⃣ The big picture: Australia’s beloved tawny frogmouth has finally claimed the top spot in the 2025 Guardian/BirdLife Australia bird of the year competition after finishing runner-up in 2019, 2021, and 2023. The nocturnal bird with remarkable camouflage abilities received 11,851 votes in the final round, beating the Baudin’s black cockatoo (7,688 votes) and the gang-gang cockatoo (6,256 votes). Found exclusively in Australia across almost all habitats except dense rainforests and treeless deserts, these territorial birds mate for life and are often mistaken for owls despite being more closely related to nightjars. The annual poll helps raise awareness about Australia’s unique bird species and the conservation challenges they face.
2️⃣ Why is this good news: The tawny frogmouth’s victory after three attempts as runner-up celebrates perseverance and highlights one of Australia’s most distinctive native birds. This competition has successfully engaged over 310,000 voters, creating a nationwide conversation about bird conservation that extends beyond the contest itself. The poll brings necessary attention to endangered species like the Baudin’s black cockatoo, which researchers argue should be classified as critically endangered due to steep population decline from deforestation. Public engagement with native wildlife through lighthearted initiatives like this strengthens conservation efforts and fosters deeper connections between Australians and their unique natural heritage. The timing of the announcement coincides with Birdlife Australia’s national Aussie Bird Count, encouraging even more citizen participation in bird science.
3️⃣ What’s next: Birdlife Australia’s national citizen science bird study, the Aussie Bird Count, begins on October 20th, offering a way for the public to contribute to avian research. Conservation efforts must focus on addressing habitat loss affecting species like the Baudin’s black cockatoo. Researchers continue monitoring Australia’s birds facing an extinction crisis, with particular attention needed for rare species vulnerable to one-off events.
Read the full story here: The Guardian – Tawny frogmouth named 2025 Australian bird of the year winner
