New Zealand names critically endangered native long-tailed bat as Bird of the Year

The critically endangered New Zealand long-tailed bat has been named the New Zealand Bird of the Year 2021. The pekapeka-tou-roa, or long-tailed bat, swooped to victory in the public vote to be crowned 2021’s Bird of the Year!

The Bird of the Year competition is organized annually by New Zealand-based independent conservation organization Forest & Bird to raise awareness among the citizens about the native birds of the country.