Eurasian wren named Bird of Year 2026 in Moldova

The Society for the Protection of Birds and Nature of Moldova (SPPN) has announced the results of this year’s edition of the public campaign, Bird of the Year, and the winner for 2026 is the Eurasian wren, the species that received the most votes from the public.

The competition took place online and voting was open to everyone interested in nature and biodiversity. According to the organizers, the race for first place was tight, with active participation of the community.

“After counting the votes, the final ranking was as follows: Eurasian wren – 303 votes; Eurasian magpie – 175 votes; common buzzard – 134 votes; red-backed shrike – 101 votes; northern wheatear – 99 votes,” SPPN notes.

Through this annual initiative, the organization aims not only to symbolically designate a species, but above all, to enhance awareness of the protection of wild birds and natural habitats of Moldova.

The Eurasian wren is a small-sized, energetic and very active bird, known for its agility and its ability to adapt to different types of natural environments – from forested areas to parks and gardens. Although it is not among the most visually striking species, it plays an important role in ecosystems, by contributing to the natural control of insects and maintaining biological balance.

SPPN representatives emphasize that choosing such a species draws attention to the fact that not only rare or imposing birds need protection. Small, common birds are valuable indicators of the state of the environment and can signal ecological changes, including habitat’s degradation, use of pesticides or the reduction of green areas.

The Bird of the Year campaign is an educational initiative, the goals of which include promoting local biodiversity, familiarizing the public—especially children and young people—with native species, encouraging birdwatching in nature, and stimulating the protection of natural habitats.

Throughout 2026, the organization will carry out activities dedicated to the winning species, including informational materials, topic-related excursions, lessons in schools and popularization actions highlighting the importance of nature’s conservation.

According to the organizers, designating the Eurasian wren as the Bird of the Year 2026 is an invitation to the public to look more closely at the nature around them and to understand that environmental protection starts from simple actions—observing, respecting and safeguarding the living creatures in our vicinity.