The RSPB’s Bird of the Year is back – which of our feathered friends will get your vote?
- Five brilliant bird species are contending to be crowned The RSPB’s UK Bird of Year 2026
- This year’s competition sees the return of reigning champion the Swift, alongside the Lapwing, the Greenfinch, Gannet and Montagu’s Harrier
- The RSPB and its President, NHS and TV Doctor Dr Amir Khan, are encouraging the public to vote for their favourite before 10pm on Sunday 22nd November, with a winner announced on Saturday 28th November
The RSPB’s Bird of the Year competition is back for a second year, with voting open to the public from today (Friday 30th October). Running for six weeks this autumn, five brilliant bird species will compete in a high-flying ‘talon-t’ competition, with the winner crowned Bird of the Year 2026.
This year is the second time the RSPB has run the Bird of the Year competition, with over 52,000 people casting their votes in 2025 to crown the Swift their top bird.
This year’s competition sees the return of reigning champion the Swift, semi-finalist the Lapwing, and three fresh-faced competitors: the Greenfinch, Gannet and Montagu’s Harrier.
In the UK and around the world, birds are under increasing pressure from threats including habitat loss, disease and climate change. Yet there are incredible stories of hope too, with communities, volunteers and conservation efforts giving many species a chance to bounce back.
Each of the 2026 contenders has been carefully selected by the RSPB because it is directly impacted by one or more of these threats and, alongside many species, is the subject of the RSPB’s vital nature conservation work.
Charlotte Ambrose, wildlife expert at the RSPB, said: ‘There is certainly tough competition for this year’s Bird of the Year, with each remarkable species facing adversity and deserving of a crown! The shortlist features the UK’s rarest breeding bird of prey, the Montagu’s Harrier, and celebrates its second year of breeding and, hopefully, the start of the return for the species. It also includes the Swift, the reigning champion, who every year spends up to ten months of its life in flight and whose screaming call is one of the most evocative sounds of summer – yet their numbers have declined by 70% in the UK.
‘These are just two of the incredible birds you can vote for, and we hope people will enjoy discovering the incredible stories behind this year’s nominees.’
Among those voting for their preferred winner will be RSPB President, NHS and TV doctor Dr Amir Khan. Dr Amir said: “Birds play such an important role in our lives, whether it’s the first birdsong you hear in the morning or spotting a favourite species on a walk. As a doctor, I know how important spending time in nature can be for our wellbeing, and birds help us feel connected to the natural world around us. The RSPB’s Bird of the Year is a brilliant way to celebrate these remarkable species while also highlighting the challenges many of them face. I’ll certainly be casting my vote, and I hope people across the UK will join in and support their favourite bird too.”
Voting is now open until 10pm on Sunday 22nd November via the RSPB website, with the winner announced on Saturday 28th November.
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