California’s 2026 Bird of the Year Winner Is…

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The votes are in, and CALIFORNIA CONDOR has officially soared to victory as Audubon California’s 2026 Bird of the Year!

To celebrate Audubon California’s 30th anniversary, we invited Bird Lovers across the state to tell us about the birds they love and why. Eight incredible birds entered the tournament, each representing a different part of California’s remarkable biodiversity and the conservation work helping protect the places birds need. Throughout the tournament, our staff, partners, and supporters made the case for their favorite feathered contenders, sharing fascinating facts, conservation stories, and a healthy dose of friendly competition.

After advancing through the initial rounds and semifinals, California Condor faced off against Western Burrowing Owl in the FINAL round. Both birds inspired passionate supporters, but only ONE bird could claim the crown!

Congratulations to Team Condor! From just 22 California Condors remaining in 1982 to hundreds flying free today, this remarkable conservation comeback story is well worth celebrating—and a prescient reminder that protecting species for future generations requires continued dedication.

A HUGE round of applause to all EIGHT contenders!

While only one bird could take home the crown, all eight contestants gave us plenty to celebrate! From California’s grasslands and wetlands to its coastlines and deserts, each bird helped shine a spotlight on the remarkable species and habitats we’re working to protect.

Let’s revisit the original matchups and the birds that made this tournament so memorable!

Matchup 1: Tricolored Blackbird vs. California Condor

Tricolored Blackbird

Tricolored Blackbirds know there’s strength in numbers! Found almost exclusively in California and famous for forming enormous breeding colonies numbering in the tens of thousands, these highly social birds helped spotlight Audubon California’s work to protect the wetlands, working lands, and other habitats they need to thrive.

California Condor

Once on the brink of extinction, California Condors are making a remarkable comeback thanks to decades of dedicated conservation efforts. But this year, one very determined team took on a new challenge: campaigning for California Bird of the Year! Actual California Condors even held a Zoom meeting to strategize their Bird of the Year campaign. Yes, you can seriously watch it HERE. Plus, Condorleezza (an actual California Condor) went door to door to make the case for Team Condor.

Matchup 2: Surf Scoter vs. Western Snowy Plover

Surf Scoter

Team Weird Duck brought plenty of personality to the tournament! Our Richardson Bay Audubon Center & Sanctuary team rallied behind the Surf Scoter with a creative challenge for summer camp counselors: drawing this distinctive sea duck using only a field guide description. Beyond the fantastic artwork, the campaign highlighted our work to protect Richardson Bay’s eelgrass habitat, where wintering Surf Scoters gather to feed on Pacific herring eggs.

Western Snowy Plover

The Western Snowy Plover made an impressive run to the semifinals while highlighting an important conservation success story. After Audubon petitioned for federal protection in 1988, the Pacific Coast population was listed as threatened in 1993. In 2025, the coastal population surpassed 3,000 birds for the first time since its recovery plan was developed, marking a major milestone for this tiny shorebird.

Matchup 3: Least Bell’s Vireo vs. Western Burrowing Owl

Least Bell’s Vireo

Don’t underestimate this little songbird! Least Bell’s Vireo brought attention to California’s riparian habitats and the conservation efforts helping this endangered subspecies recover along the LA River thanks to our Audubon Center at Debs Park team and their amazing community partners.

Western Burrowing Owl

With long legs, expressive eyes, and an underground lifestyle, Western Burrowing Owl made it all the way to the championship round! Team Burrowing Owl also highlighted Audubon California’s work at the 3,806-acre Hanning Flat Preserve in the Kern River Valley, where artificial burrows designed with partners and installed by volunteers are already attracting individual owls and nesting pairs, creating more places for these charismatic grassland birds to call home.

Matchup 4: California Brown Pelican vs. Western Sandpiper

California Brown Pelican

Air sacs beneath the California Brown Pelican’s skin help cushion the impact as it dives into the ocean in search of fish. This spectacular seabird also represents a remarkable conservation success story. After DDT drove steep population declines, Audubon helped secure a nationwide ban on the pesticide in 1972, contributing to the species’ recovery and removal from the endangered species list in 2009. Today, Audubon California continues to support Brown Pelicans through research and advocacy to protect the coastal habitats and offshore waters these birds need to thrive.

Western Sandpiper

This tiny long-distance traveler reminded us that size is no measure of endurance! Western Sandpipers depend on wetlands and coastal habitats to rest and refuel during their remarkable migrations. Through our BirdReturns program, Audubon California works with Central Valley farmers to create temporary wetland habitat when shorebirds need it most. Farther south, our research and monitoring at the Salton Sea help us understand how Western Sandpipers and other shorebirds are using newly emerging wetlands in a rapidly changing landscape.

EVERY bird is worth celebrating! Whether your favorite bird took home the crown or was knocked out in the opening round, thank you for following along, casting your votes, and cheering on these incredible contenders!

As we continue celebrating 30 years of Audubon California, we’re grateful for the people and partnerships that make our conservation work possible. Every bird in this tournament reminds us what’s at stake and what we can accomplish when we work together to protect the places birds and people need.