The black robin, a species found exclusively in the Chatham Islands 800 kilometers east of mainland New Zealand, has won the annual New Zealand bird of the year award. Known locally as kakaruia in Māori and karure in the Moriori language, the small bird is characterized by its entirely black plumage, dark eyes, and pointed beak, earning it the nickname “goth” of New Zealand’s avian population.
The species faced catastrophic population decline due to habitat loss and introduced predators. By the 1970s, only five individuals remained, with breeding prospects dependent on a single pair named Old Blue and Old Yellow. A pioneering conservation initiative employing cross-species fostering techniques successfully rehabilitated the population, which has since grown to approximately 350 adult birds, though the species retains threatened status under conservation classifications.
The 2026 bird of the year competition, administered by the conservation organization Forest and Bird, recorded unprecedented participation with 105,000 total votes cast, approximately 88 percent originating from New Zealand. The black robin finished ahead of the kākāpō, the world’s heaviest parrot species, which placed second, and the kārearea, a native falcon that held the title the previous year, which finished third.
According to representatives of the Chatham Islands Landscape Restoration Trust, while the black robin represents a significant conservation achievement, the species has not yet reached a fully secure status. Current habitat on the islands is operating near maximum capacity, and conservation efforts are seeking to establish a third pest-free island to support continued population growth and long-term species viability.
The annual bird of the year competition, established 20 years ago, aims to increase public awareness regarding threats faced by New Zealand’s native bird species. Many of the country’s birds remain endangered, critically endangered, or extinct due to introduced species, human activity, and habitat degradation.
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