Pictured above: a Tūī Taika by Kathryn Avery
For two decades now, independent conservation organisation Forest & Bird’s Bird of the Year has been capturing the imagination of Aotearoa and further afield (looking at you and your foreign election interference, John Oliver).
The Yellow Eyed Penguin won last year (for a second time after triumphing in 2019), and now voting for this year’s champ is underway – closing 5pm Sunday 28 September, so get cracking!
Well, after you’ve seen how some of the candidates compare to characters from the big and small screen…
Flicks invited the campaign managers of this year’s candidates to submit their picks as to which fictitious character best embodies their bird. Not all took up the opportunity (I’m kinda thankful, with over 70 species in the competition), but nevertheless, this is a great selection – and some excellent picks.
All copy below comes from the campaign managers. In a couple of cases I picked the film I thought best fitted the bill, sorry, the description.
Check out the full list and vote at birdoftheyear.org.nz. While you’re there, consider making a donation – be a good egg, support New Zealand’s flock of fliers and flightless.
Hoiho / Yellow-eyed penguin
Gandalf (Ian McKellen) in The Lord of Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
“Like Gandalf, hoiho are the tallest in their friend group (36cm taller in fact than those little blue hobbit penguins). Ancient, majestic and one of the rarest penguins in the world, just like wizards. Generally elusive keeping to themselves, but when facing a threat like Balrog have a mighty battle cry!”
Kahu / Harrier
Paul Child (Stanley Tucci) in Julie & Julia
“Much like “The Tucc”, Kahu is everywhere, he’s doing alright, and is known by everyone. Tucci’s Julie & Julia character Paul Child comes to mind, happily eating whatever is placed in front of him….”
Kākā
Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
“Captain Jack Sparrow and the kākā have similar characteristics in the way that they are both highly social and are always up to something mischievous. Some other similarities between Jack Sparrow and the kākā are that they are intelligent and playful.”
Korimako / Bellbird
Elphaba Thropp (Cynthia Erivo) in Wicked
“The Elphaba of the forest – they’ve got the voice, they look amazing in green, and they’re not shy about owning the spotlight.”
Kororā / Little Penguin
Percy Jackson (Logan Lerman) in Percy Jackson & The Lightning Thief
“Percy Jackson is the son of Poseidon, meaning he feels even more comfortable in the water than he does on land. He can stay underwater for long periods of time, can withstand immense water pressure, has great underwater vision without needing goggles and also loves the colour blue. He is also just a little guy trying his best!”
Matuku-hūrepo / Australasian bittern
Yoda (Frank Oz) in The Empire Strikes Back
“Like Yoda the Matuku-hūrepo is wise, mysterious and blends into the swampy background but a true force of nature. Rare I am. Save me, you must!”
Mohua / Yellowhead
The Muses from Hercules
“They are sassy, musical, hilarious, they serve, they slay, they are always in a social group and did I say they are sassy?”
Pārera / Grey Duck
Batman (Robert Pattinson) in The Batman
“Dark, handsome, and characteristic eye markings… need I say more?”
Pīwauwau / Rock Wren
Samwise Gamgee (Sean Astin) in The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
“Like Samwise, the pīwauwau is small and can be overlooked, but it’s brave, has a big heart, and carries hope for survival against the odds.”
Pōpokotea / Whitehead
Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal) in The Mandalorian
“Long-tailed cuckoos lay eggs in pōpokotea nests, and pōpokotea end up raising those chicks, just like how Din ends up raising Grogu!”
Pūkeko
Jessica Day (Zooey Deschanel) in New Girl
“We’re both great living in a group, we both rock a red lip, and we’ve both taken a lot of lovers ❤️”
Pukunui / Southern New Zealand Dotterel
The Oompa Loompas in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory
“It’s a great fit – they’re both orange (during breeding season anyway), short, endangered, love to hop around, hide in plain sight, and sing obnoxious songs… Instead of helping Willy Wonka make chocolate, our wee Oompa Loompas are doing their best work to survive from extinction.”
Ruru / Morepork
Batman (Michael Keaton) in Batman Returns
“Ruru /morepork is New Zealand’s only endemic owl and is the night guardian of Aotearoa. But the Dark Knight of the forest has never been crowned Bird of the Year and seeks justice. Although Ruru can turn its head 270 degrees (more neck rotation than Batman), like Batman, Ruru protects the forest while the people sleep. Through my super hearing Ruru can see without seeing. To us, darkness is as clear as daylight. Ruru’s ‘morepork’ cry is not just a call – it’s a warning. Fear is a tool, they think Ruru is hiding in the shadows, Ruru is the shadows.”
Tara Iti / Fairy Tern
Tinker Bell in Peter Pan
“The fairy tern, tara iti, is like Tinker Bell taking a break from Neverland – a fierce fairy in Jackie O sunglasses, flitting over the northern beaches!”
Tarāpunga / Red-billed Gull
Mr. Wolf (Sam Rockwell) in The Bad Guys
“Red-billed Gulls are misunderstood icons with a penchant for chaos and mischief; many people know them as troublemakers but they’ve got a soft spot too!”
Tauhou / Silver Eye
King Julien XIII (Sacha Baron Cohen) in Madagascar
“Small but feisty and full of self-importance.”
Tītī wainui / Fairy prion
The Blue Fairy (Evelyn Venable) in Pinocchio
“In the 1940 film, the Blue Fairy appears to grant Geppetto’s wish and guide Pinocchio toward becoming real. Donned in its own blue feathery ‘fit, the Fairy Prion arrives to its nesting burrow, raises its chick, and then vanishes back into the open sea – leaving behind a fledgling ready to take on the big wide world.”
Tōrea Pango
Marceline (Olivia Olson) in Adventure Time
“I think this is a good match, as tōrea pango is serving a gothic flair similar to Marceline, and is a bit emotional and over protective of the things they love.”
Tūī
Taika Waititi in all his stuff (like Hunt for the Wilderpeople)
“The OG voice for Aotearoa, and for nature! The master of impressions, always dressed to impress, mischievous, clever and unafraid to stir things up. He’s one of NZ’s strongest cultural voices, cheeky, hardworking and a true voice for Aotearoa… just like Tūī.”
Tūturiwhatu / Northern New Zealand Dotterel
Han Solo (Harrison Ford) in Star Wars
“Han Solo speeds across the galaxy in the Millenium Falcon, but the Northern Dotterel is equally as fast, skilled and impressive, zooming along the sand dunes; if you look close enough, you can see those little legs leaping into hyperspace.”
Weka
Robin Hood (Kevin Costner) in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves
“Robin Hood – like the weka – is a legendary, cheeky outlaw famous for stealing; yet still wins hearts as a clever hero we can’t help but root for.”
Check out the full list and vote for your faves at birdoftheyear.org.nz.
