The Pīwauwau Rock wren has been named Bird of the Year 2022. 

Forest & Bird Chief Executive Nicola Toki said it’s been awesome to see Kiwis get to know some of their lesser-known feathered neighbours.

“As Aotearoa’s only true alpine bird, these tiny wrens are feeling the impacts of warmer temperatures, which allow predators like rats and stoats to climb higher and invade their mountaintop homes,” she said.

Stephen Day who co-leads the Pīwauwau campaign said he was so happy Pīwauwau were finally having their time in the spotlight.

"Unless you’d spent some time in the mountains, you’d probably never heard of a rock wren until two weeks ago. It’s a true underbird."

"It’s so worth the trip to see Pīwauwau in the Southern Alps. They are tiny birds, chock full of character, and like so many other species, they’re threatened by pests and climate change," he said.

The Pīwauwau is a little olive bird with a stubby tail and long legs, weighing about the same as a Mallowpuff.

It has feet resembling snowshoes, with long talons like crampons for gripping onto rocks and snow.

Rock wrens live above the bushline in the Southern Alps, bobbing and hopping between rocks rather than flying.

The bird is nationally endangered and one of just two surviving species (along with titipounamu riflemen) from an ancient wren lineage unique to New Zealand.

The final results, once transferable voting was applied, were (initial votes in brackets):

1. Pīwauwau / rock wren (2894) 
2. Kororā / little penguin (3351) 
3. Kea (1852) 
4. Karure / kakaruia / Chatham Island black robin (1594) 
5. Tawaki piki toka / rockhopper penguin (1468) 
6. Pīwakawaka / fantail (1228) 
7. Hihi / stitchbird (1302) 
8. Kārearea / New Zealand falcon (1260) 
9. Pūteketeke / Australasian crested grebe (1184) 
10. Titipounamu / rifleman (1477)