Bird of the Year in Latvia
Bird of the Year in Latvia is an annual nomination of bird species of the Latvian fauna that is need of protection or attention. The designated bird species of the year is selected by the Latvian Ornithological Society [lv].[1][2]
This category has been created to raise awareness about the species that are rare in the country[3] or are endangered on a larger scale[4], or experience population decline[5], are in need of the protection of their habitats[6], or otherwise would benefit from additional attention from the general population.[7]
The category has been present since 1996, and has been inspired from the first Bird of the Year nomination of 1971 in Germany.[2]
Selected bird species by the year
- 2026 – Pygmy owl (Glaucidium passerinum)[1][6]
- 2025 – Common starling (Sturnus vulgaris)[7]
- 2024 – Little tern (Sternula albifrons)[8]
- 2023 – Thrush nightingale (Luscinia luscinia)[9]
- 2022 – Common swift (Apus apus)[10]
- 2021 – Gray partridge (Perdix perdix)[11]
- 2020 – Common kingfisher (Alcedo atthis)[12]
- 2019 – Hazel grouse (Tetrastes bonasia)[13]
- 2018 – Common redshank (Tringa totanus)[4]
- 2017 – Western yellow wagtail (Motacilla flava)[14]
- 2016 – Great spotted woodpecker (Dendrocopos major)[15]
- 2015 – European golden plover (Pluvialis apricaria)[16]
- 2014 – Eurasian hoopoe (Upupa epops)[3]
- 2013 – Long-tailed duck (Clangula hyemalis)[17]
- 2012 – White-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla)[18]
- 2011 – Tawny owl (Strix aluco)[19]
- 2010 – Western capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus)[20]
- 2009 – Great cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)[21]
- 2008 – Black stork (Ciconia nigra)[5]
- 2007 – Black woodpecker (Dryocopus martius)[6][22]
- 2006 – Common kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)[6][23]
- 2005 – Whooper swan (Cygnus cygnus)[6][23]
- 2004 – White stork (Ciconia ciconia)[6][23]
- 2003 – Black grouse (Lyrurus tetrix)[6][23]
- 2002 – Black-headed gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus)[6][23]
- 2001 – Eurasian eagle-owl (Bubo bubo)[6][23]
- 2000 – Northern lapwing (Vanellus vanellus)[6][23]
- 1999 – Lesser spotted eagle (Clanga pomarina)[6][23]
- 1998 – European roller (Coracias garrulus)[6][23]
- 1997 – European nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus)[6][23]
- 1996 – Corn crake (Crex crex)[6][23]
References
- ^ a b "Well, owl say: Latvia's bird of the year announced". eng.lsm.lv. 2026-01-02. Retrieved 2026-03-05.
- ^ a b "2011. gada putni kaimiņvalstīs". dabasdati.lv (in Latvian). 2011-02-25. Archived from the original on 2016-03-05. Retrieved 2026-03-06.
- ^ a b "2014. gada putns – pupuķis". dabasdati.lv (in Latvian). 2013-12-27. Retrieved 2026-03-06.
- ^ a b "Gada putns 2018 – pļavu tilbīte". dabasdati.lv (in Latvian). 2018-01-06. Retrieved 2026-03-05.
- ^ a b "2008.gada putns – melnais stārķis". Delfi (in Latvian). 2007-12-27. Retrieved 2026-03-06.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "Gada putns 2026 – apodziņš". dabasdati.lv (in Latvian). 2026-01-02. Retrieved 2026-03-06.
- ^ a b "Latvia's 2025 star(ling) of the avian world takes wing". eng.lsm.lv. 2025-01-02. Retrieved 2026-03-05.
- ^ "That took a tern: Latvia announces bird of the year". eng.lsm.lv. 2026-01-02. Retrieved 2026-03-05.
- ^ "Nightingale is Latvia's bird of the year". eng.lsm.lv. 2023-01-02. Retrieved 2026-03-05.
- ^ "Latvia swiftly chooses its Bird of 2022". eng.lsm.lv. 2022-01-03. Retrieved 2026-03-05.
- ^ "Gray partridge chosen as bird of the year 2021". eng.lsm.lv. 2021-01-04. Retrieved 2026-03-05.
- ^ "Kingfisher is Latvia's bird of the year for 2020". eng.lsm.lv. 2020-01-03. Retrieved 2026-03-05.
- ^ "2019. gada putns – mežirbe". dabasdati.lv (in Latvian). 2019-01-02. Retrieved 2026-03-05.
- ^ "Yellow in vogue for birds and plants in 2017". eng.lsm.lv. 2017-01-05. Retrieved 2026-03-05.
- ^ "Meet the animal, bird... and moss of the year!". eng.lsm.lv. 2016-01-20. Retrieved 2026-03-05.
- ^ "2015. gada putns – dzeltenais tārtiņš". dabasdati.lv (in Latvian). 2015-01-10. Retrieved 2026-03-06.
- ^ "Latvijas 2013. gada putns - kākaulis". www.lsm.lv (in Latvian). 2013-01-04. Retrieved 2026-03-06.
- ^ "2012. gada putns - jūras ērglis". www.lsm.lv (in Latvian). 2011-12-30. Retrieved 2026-03-06.
- ^ "Latvijas 2011. gada putns - meža pūce". Delfi (in Latvian). 2011-01-17. Retrieved 2026-03-06.
- ^ "2010.gada putns Latvijā - mednis". jauns.lv (in Latvian). 2010-01-01. Retrieved 2026-03-06.
- ^ "Latvijas 2009. gada putns būs jūraskrauklis". Delfi (in Latvian). 2008-12-30. Retrieved 2026-03-06.
- ^ "Gada putns – melnā dzilna". eDruva.lv (in Latvian). 2007-04-20. Retrieved 2026-03-06.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Gada dabas simboli | Dabas aizsardzības pārvalde". www.daba.gov.lv (in Latvian). 2020-11-17. Retrieved 2026-03-06.