The yellow-eyed penguin, also known as the hoiho, has won 2019's Bird of the Year competition.
The hoiho - the first ever seabird to win the title - beat the kākāpō, black robin, banded dotterel and piwakawaka, also known as the fantail.
Forest & Bird spokesperson Megan Hubscher said the hoiho, which got 12,022 votes, and second-place kākāpō were neck-and-neck.
"It was so close between these two amazing endangered birds, it was impossible to predict a winner for most of the competition."
Last year the kererū (wood pigeon) won by about 50,000 votes.
Top five:
- Hoiho, yellow-eyed penguin
- Kākāpō
- Kakaruia, black robin
- Ttūturiwhatu, banded dotterel
- Pīwakawaka, fantail
