Our national bird

Here at the end of the world we have a unique eco-system, so the kiwi was the obvious choice. It's a unique bird too as it is the only one in the entire world that hunts for its food by smell. Were I in the UK I think would probably vote for a water bird, such as a heron or avocet – obviously not a Canada goose.

National bird !!! Barbara Windsor surely . But I would vote for the plucky little wren.

It was only on the farthing because it was thought, wrongly, to be our smallest bird. So how about a vote for the goldcrest?

Or the dodo... that would be symbolic.

I agree with grumppa - the wren - mainly because it used to be on the farthing

I'm with NellieM and Nina - the blackbird because of its voice

jingle, I agree - just hate being asked all the time- what's your favourite flower, bird, animal, food, wine, country- and so on. I love just too many birds to choose... and refuse too.

Do you mean a national bird for England? We have 4 national flowers (plus the Welsh have a national vegetable which seems a bit OTT IMHO) so of course we need four national birds?

England - The Sparrow
Scotland - The Famous Grouse
Wales - The Red Kite
N. Ireland - The Lapwing

?

I would vote for the blackbird. Such a beautiful song.

thatbags the rooster is the main feature on France's national sports teams badge.

We already have a national flower, the rose and the oak tree ?

Robin or wren are great choices, but for me the sheer presence of a song thrush would get my vote. Hearing them singing from the treetops in the early evening as the days get longer is a delight.

I would vote for the pissy bed dandelion louella

I like the idea of a national weed

that's true grumppa! Good point.

Wrens are one of my favourite birds. Robins are anything but wimpy.

I didn't know France and India had so-called national birds. This suggests that the significance of their national birds is low. I suspect it would be the same here.

Are we looking for a bird that all the constituent parts of the UK can agree on? If so, Election Day could get really nasty.

Of the ones on the list, the wren at least has history. It used to be on the farthing.

The Blackbird is my choice. They sit up high and sing their socks off when the weather is fine. They are glorious birds despite being so common in Britain.
Robins are not the nice little birds every one thinks.

The presence of a robin in my garden has seen off all the blue tits that were there for the last two years.

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2012/jul/10/pigeons-garden-birds-entertainment

"When it comes to friends, the robin is always top of the league table. This charming little bird is a symbol of the enduring friendship between humans and the bird world – an emissary from the wild come to fill our hearts with joy." "What a pity, then, that the robin is in reality the most vicious, violent and thuggish of all garden birds. If there were asbos for birds themselves, then every robin in Britain would have one. The males in particular will not allow any rivals into their territory, and will fight intruders, sometimes to the death."

How do we define a national bird? Is it one we all like and see a lot of, or one which says something about what sort of country we are? Robins are gregarious but if you've ever seen two locked together in a scrap, they can be extremely aggressive and territorial. The wren, which would get my vote, is small and busy with a loud voice which might have described us years ago but I'm not so sure now. Someone on the radio suggested a chicken ! I agree, it's all rather silly.

Robin or Wren??

Far too wimpy!

What about a national pet?
A national fish?
A national tree?
Flower?
Weed?
Insect?

We have a resident barn owl. If one of us is driving up the farm road just before dusk he'll be working the drains and will often fly alongside the car. It's the most amazing sight and makes us feel very lucky indeed.

I think it's bonkers too.

What about Turkey, Chicken or Seagull ?

They actually expect us to give it some thought?

Why do we need one particular bird to be the "national" one? Bonkers!

I think of robins as very British. I am probably completely wrong about that though!

I'd be tempted to vote for the wren, we have one which comes to our garden and I catch a glimpse of him sometimes if I'm lucky! But I agree that the robin is a more common sight and is recognisable to most people.