The Common Ostrich (Struthio camelus) has officially been crowned Tanzania’s Bird of the Year 2026, following a nationwide conservation awareness campaign that invited the public to vote for their favorite bird species.
As the world’s largest living bird, the ostrich is one of Tanzania’s most iconic wildlife species. It is commonly found across the country’s open savannah landscapes, particularly in Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, and Tarangire National Park.
The Bird of the Year campaign aims to raise awareness about bird conservation, promote biodiversity protection, and encourage sustainable tourism—especially birdwatching tourism, which continues to grow in Tanzania.
The ostrich is admired not only for its impressive size and speed—capable of running up to 70 km/h—but also for its ecological importance in savannah ecosystems. Conservation stakeholders believe that this recognition will strengthen efforts to protect open grasslands and wildlife habitats across the country.
News Source
According to The Citizen,
“The ostrich has been crowned Tanzania’s Bird of the Year 2026 following a public voting campaign aimed at promoting bird conservation and environmental awareness.”
— The Citizen, Tanzania
