• The 41st Singapore Bird Race is supported by Mapletree for the seventh year running under its corporate social responsibility pillar of support for the environment and education. 
• The Common Flameback and Long-tailed Parakeet are the mascots for this year’s theme of “Woodland Birds“. 
• This year’s race brought together a record number of more than 460 participating birdwatchers and photographers, and more than 120 youths and students, many of whom are from the Nature Society Singapore’s Every Singaporean a Naturalist Programme.
• Over 166 species of birds were observed, including more than several globally threatened species such as the Lesser Adjutant and Straw-headed Bulbul, as well as rare migratory species like the Eurasian Curlew and Black Paradise Flycatcher. This highlights the importance of habitat conservation in Singapore.

SINGAPORE – The 41st Singapore Bird Race has set a new record with participation from more than 440 birdwatches and photographers, the largest turnout ever for the event. Sponsored by Mapletree Investments (“Mapletree”) for the seventh year running, the event was jointly organised by Nature Society Singapore (“NSS”) and BirdLife International, with support from the National Parks Board.

This year’s theme, “Woodland Birds”, underscores the importance of safeguarding Singapore’s remaining and fragmented woodlands, which serves as vital habitats for species such as the Common Flameback and the globally threatened Long-tailed Parakeet, which continue to adapt and thrive in our city-state. By focusing on woodland birds, the race hopes to inspire greater awareness and action for the conservation of these precious green spaces.  

Held from 15 to 16 November 2025, the Singapore Bird Race is the longest-running bird race in South-East Asia and the longest-running nature appreciation and citizen science initiative in Singapore. Organised annually since 1984, the Singapore Bird Race continues to grow as the nation’s premier citizen science and nature appreciation event. Participation soared to a new record with 468 birdwatchers and photographers forming 138 teams across seven categories (see below). This diverse and enthusiastic turnout reflects Singapore’s growing interest in birdwatching, environmental stewardship, and conservation of our urban biodiversity. There is also sustained use of technology via eBird, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s (a part of Cornell University) increasingly popular and well-regarded web-based platform for birdwatchers, enabling users to submit observations and photographs of birds digitally.

• Marathon: 46 participants (13 teams) 

• Sprint: 93 participants (25 teams) 

• Novice: 103 participants (31 teams) 

• Family: 66 participants (19 teams) 

• Photographer: 33 participants (18 teams) 

• Youth: 89 participants (24 teams) 

• School (Primary): 38 participants (8 teams) 

The Awards and Closing Ceremony, held at Mapletree Business City, was graced by Ms Gan Siow Huang, Minister of State, Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Ministry of Trade and Industry. Key guests included Mr Wan Kwong Weng, Group Chief Corporate Officer of Mapletree, Ms Hwang Yu-Ning, Chief Executive Officer of the National Parks Board, Mr Leong Kwok Peng, President of Nature Society Singapore, Mr Vinayagan Dharmarajah, Regional Director (Asia) and Head of Governance at BirdLife International. 

The top teams in each category are as follows: 

Mr Wan Kwong Weng, Group Chief Corporate Officer, Mapletree, shared, “The Singapore Bird Race exemplifies the strategic collaboration between Mapletree, the Nature Society Singapore and BirdLife International. This partnership was further strengthened through a new memorandum of understanding to jointly organise activities that promote public interest in nature, especially wild birds and their conservation. In addition, Mapletree is proud to have sponsored the production of Singapore Bird Race’s 40th anniversary compendium, further demonstrating our support for biodiversity and environmental education.”  

Ms Veronica Foo, Chairperson of the Nature Society Singapore Bird Group said, “We are heartened by the sustained interest in the Bird Race from all quarters of Singapore’s society and the sheer number of participants who joined us for this event once more. We are grateful to Mapletree for their support in making the 41^st anniversary of the Singapore Bird Race a resounding success.” Mr Vinayagan Dharmarajah, Regional Director (Asia) of BirdLife International noted, “I am excited to see the birds of Singapore’s woodlands being highlighted in this year’s race. Woodlands do not often get the attention they deserve, and many people are not aware that these woodlands which are found all over Singapore, also supported some highly endangered species.” 

“The Singapore Bird Race has its origins in 1984 as a humble NSS event which attracted a small but enthusiastic number of people from the birdwatching community. The annual Singapore Bird Race continues to expand in size, with 2025 being yet another record turnout. That said, we also see that the Bird Race forms the platform raising the profile of conservation priorities in Singapore, in this case, the wildlife of our fast disappearing woodlands,” noted Mr Leong Kwok Peng, President of the Nature Society Singapore.

The Singapore Bird Race is aligned with two of Mapletree’s key Corporate Social Responsibility pillars – environment and education. Nature Society Singapore is deeply grateful to Mapletree for its unwavering support as main sponsor for the seventh consecutive year. Mapletree’s continued commitment has been instrumental in enabling the outreach and impact of the Singapore Bird Race, fostering appreciation and protection of Singapore’s natural heritage among people of all ages and backgrounds. 

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