Five extinct birds are being included on the vote to find New Zealand’s most popular feathered friend! The competition hopes to draw attention to endangered birds.

New Zealand’s annual bird beauty contest has kicked up a fuss over the years.

The kakapo, a chubby parrot resembling a green-feathered bowling ball which cannot fly, could not run in last year’s Bird of the Year competition.

The popular bird was dropped from last year’s vote to help less popular species have a chance at the title.

Also, in 2021, a bat was allowed to enter, and it won the competition even though it wasn’t a bird!

This year, the competition organisers will celebrate their 100-year anniversary by crowning New Zealand’s most popular bird of the last 100 years – even if the winner is no longer living.

“We’re searching for the bird that has captured New Zealanders’ hearts over the last century,” said competition judge Nicola Toki.

There are 75 species on the list for this year’s Bird of the Century contest, of which five are thought to be extinct in New Zealand.

They include the huia – a songbird which was last seen in 1907.

Voters can also choose the laughing owl, whose shrieks were last heard in 1914.

Nicola hopes adding extinct species will start conversations about endangered birds.

Voting starts at the end of October, and the winning bird will be named on November 12.