Threatened kārearea falcon wins New Zealand’s 2025 bird of the year

The country's fastest bird has taken out the top prize in a scandal-free year for the annual poll

New Zealand's fastest bird, capable of flying 200km/h in its pursuit of prey, has been crowned bird of the year - a long-running annual competition that has previously been a lightning rod for scandal and hijinks.

The threatened krearea is New Zealand's only falcon. It is small and tawny, with impressive talons and large dark eyes. Krearea are powerful aerial hunters and watch other birds, lizards or small mammals - sometimes larger than themselves - from a high vantage point before diving at high speed to snatch their prey.