New Zealand’s black robin is named Bird of the Year, with election officials reporting record turnout for the public vote. The bird, once at the edge of extinction, is found only on the remote Chatham Islands about 800 km east of mainland New Zealand.
Across reports, outlets describe how the species has rebounded through a long-running conservation breeding programme. One article notes that in 1980 only five black robins remained, including just a single breeding female, while current estimates put the population at roughly 350 adults. The Guardian characterizes the bird with the nickname “goth” and highlights its distinctive appearance, while the South China Morning Post focuses more on local voting interest and the species’ recovery milestones. Both accounts say the black robin finishes ahead of other popular candidates such as the kakapo.
While the tone differs—one using cultural and descriptive language, the other emphasizing voter participation and history—the core facts are consistent: the public vote crowns the black robin, and conservation efforts have helped bring the species back from near-extinction.
