It’s happening !

After years of being the “always the bridesmaid” bird, the tawny frogmouth is finally the Bird of the Year 2025 . That’s right. The weird, sleepy tree-branch impersonator has won.

How many people cared?

Over 313,000 bird nerds voted.

That’s more than the population of Hobart. For birds.

The tawny grabbed 11,851 votes in the final round.

Second place? Baudin’s black cockatoo with 7,688 votes .

Third? The gang-gang cockatoo — creaky and proud — with 6,256 .

Birds in the Top 10 (and one that isn’t)

The full feathery lineup included:

Tawny frogmouth

Baudin’s black cockatoo

Gang-gang cockatoo

Willie wagtail

Bush stone-curlew

Laughing kookaburra

Southern emu-wren

Spotted pardalote

Wedge-tailed eagle

Little penguin

Missing in action? The mag

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