Voting has closed for the 2025 Australian bird of the year, with more than 250,000 votes cast. The poll, run by Guardian Australia and BirdLife Australia, closed at 6am on Wednesday 15 October. The winner will be announced on Thursday 16 October between 12.30pm and 1pm.
In an unprecedented development, the Australian magpie—winner of the inaugural 2017 poll—failed to make the top 10. The finalists, in order of their standing on Monday, include the tawny frogmouth, gang-gang cockatoo, and Baudin's black cockatoo, a newcomer this year.
The tawny frogmouth has finished second in the past three competitions, while the gang-gang cockatoo has placed third in the last two. The Baudin's black cockatoo, a threatened species, could stage an upset.
The winner will join previous champions: the Australian magpie, black-throated finch, superb fairy-wren, and 2023's swift parrot. Coverage of the announcement will be available on Guardian Australia's live blog and live stream from 11.30am.
