Today is the final day of voting for the 2021 Guardian/Birdlife Australia Poll.
In the annual poll, Aussie’s vote for the best native bird. With a selection of 50 birds each year, the voting period has a progressive knock out feature, which eliminated the 5 least popular birds each day.
At the time of publication, the poll only had 10 birds remaining in the race for Bird of the Year.
Those birds are:
Laughing Kookaburra
The most joyous of the 10 remaining contenders, the Laughing Kookaburra or Dacelo novaeguineae, is one of Australia’s best known birds. A giant Laughing Kookaburra replica has last year toured Australia, bringing a Carnival of Joy with it.
Galah
Home and Away character Alf Stewart’s favourite bird, the Galah is an Australian icon. Sporting beautiful grey and white feathers and a cheeky attitude, galahs are a flamin’ hot contender for the Bird of the Year title.
Australian Brush Turkey
Going by the scientific name of Alectura lathami, and proper name of Australian Brush Turkey, but commonly called the Bush Turkey, these messy birds are known best for building massive nests on paths overnight.
Gang-gang Cockatoo
The Gang-gang Cockatoo, or Callcephon fimbriatum, is the creepiest of the remaining Bird of the Year finalists. With a call that audibly resembles a creaky door being opened, these endangered cockatoos are hard to forget.
Australian Magpie
Who doesn’t have a memory of being swooped by an Australian Magpie while on leisurely stroll? The territorial Cracticus tibicen has a big reputation, but a beautiful song, making them favourite for Bird of the Year.
Regent Honeyeater
The Antherochaera phrygia is absolutely beautiful, with a black and yellow honeycomb pattern across its body. The Regent Honeyeater loves to travel in flocks to some of Australia’s most beautiful locations, however, they are critically endangered, to the point where their young are now unable to learn their songs; a truly devastating beauty.
Peregrine Falcon
There are two reasons that the Peregrine Falcon, also known as the Falco peregrinus, could be in the top ten for Bird of the Year 2021. The first could be that they can reach incredibly high speeds while flying, or it could be that the stars of Collins Street, Melbourne’s nesting pair live stream are also Peregrine Falcons.
Gouldian Finch
Gouldian Finches, otherwise known as Erythrura gouldiae, are making quite the come back across the outback, after facing near extinction due to over trapping and disease wiping out large portions of their population. Additionally, giant statues of these birds recently studded Brisbane’s skyline for Brisfest 2021.
Superb Fairywren
Superb Fairywren’s (Malurus cyaneus) are some of the showiest male birds in the world. With staggering rates of promiscuity and infidelity, these birds know how to shake that tail feather. They are a popular choice for Bird of the Year.
Tawny Frogmouth
After coming in as a runner-up in the 2019 competition, Tawny Frogmouth (Podagrus gtrigoides) has a good chance at the top spot this year. Recently being named the world’s most Instagrammable bird, it might be the nocturnal bird’s time to shine.
