Forget Bennelong or New England, the battle for Australia’s favourite bird is on.

As the inaugural bird of the year poll launched on Monday, the nation’s celebrities, political leaders and media outlets immediately began their campaigns.

The divisive Australian white ibis leapt to a commanding lead and the powerful owl, with the aid of Russian hackers, rose up the ranks. But in a crowded field of diverse native birds, endorsements rang out for nearly all contenders.

The federal opposition leader, Bill Shorten, cut his ties to the magpie, currently coming second, and set his sights on the emu (whose image sits above Parliament House), in what must surely be an early election pitch.



I barrack for the Magpies but I don't like getting swooped by them. I voted for the Emu — Bill Shorten (@billshortenmp) November 21, 2017

The Greens leader, Richard Di Natale, chose the Gang-gang cockatoo, another Canberra icon (“Incredible plumage but it sounds like a rusty door”), while fellow senator Nick McKim picked the wedge-tailed eagle, and Janet Rice, the hooded plover.

Scott Ludlam, 2017’s first dual citizen, again displayed divided loyalties. The former senator endorsed the Carnaby’s black cockatoo at 3.45pm on Monday, but by 8.30pm, he suddenly declared himself “Team Bin Chicken”.

come in carnaby’s - vote for these rock stars because they’re awesome and also because they’re up against bulldozers https://t.co/HuO6EsDiBc pic.twitter.com/pvaDV2GEvz — Scott Ludlam 🌈 (@Scottludlam) November 20, 2017

why is everyone hating on the ibis #TeamBinChicken — Scott Ludlam 🌈 (@Scottludlam) November 20, 2017

Malcolm Turnbull, the prime minister, was asked but did not respond, opening himself up to a string of less-than-flattering replies.

Surely it has to be the lyrebird? No voice of its own and a relentless exhibitionist. — Sunil Badami🤘🏾 🌈 (@thatsunilbadami) November 21, 2017

indian miner — Danny Coyne (@perfectjet) November 21, 2017

🎩- Spangled Drongo

Barnaby Joyce - Kiwi

Abbott - The Australian painted-snipe — Save the Planet 🌈 (@SavePl21174455) November 21, 2017

But the government’s leader of the house, Christopher Pyne, did tell ABC Radio’s Patricia Karvelas he liked the black-faced spoonbill.

Sally McManus, the secretary of the Australian Council of Trade Unions, picked the azure kingfisher, while Kristina Keneally, Labor’s star recruit for the snap Bennelong byelection, stayed on message and went for the alliterative kookaburra.

The CSIRO, while not advocating a vote, did describe the ibis as “majestic” and seemed to celebrate its lead with a large love heart. Youth radio station Triple J was far bolder and formally endorsed the magpie (“beautiful, glorious, sublime”).

it is time for a tactical retreat - if you are abbti (any bird but the ibis) then you must vote magpie - it is the only bird with a chance to catch it - and magpies are pretty great — First Dog on the Moon (@firstdogonmoon) November 21, 2017

Australian electronic music duo, Peking Duk, somehow did not back the Australian wood duck (left off the poll but subject to a brewing write-in campaign), and went with lyrebird.

How is it not the lyrebird — peking duk (@pekingduk) November 21, 2017

With debate raging, and families, political parties and workplaces divided, voting is open until 9 December.