It Might Look Like a Log & It’s Not an Owl, But It Is The Australian Bird of the Year

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.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by BirdLife Australia (@birdlifeoz)

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 magpie. Oof.

What’s the point?

Besides bragging rights, this contest raises awareness for our feathered mates.
Some, like Baudin’s cockatoo, are under threat.
So while we giggle at kookaburras and admire penguin waddles, let’s also protect their homes.

Well done, Tawny. You weird, grumpy log-bird. You did it.