Held annually since 1984, the Singapore Bird Race, organised by the Nature Society Singapore (NSS) is one of the longest-running citizen science events in Southeast Asia.
Through the race, we aim to promote the appreciation, awareness, and conservation of wild birds in Singapore, as well as to raise awareness about local biodiversity among the general public.
The Singapore Bird Race has also served as a valuable source of scientific knowledge regarding the distribution and conservation status of endangered bird species in the country.
The data collected during this annual race has been used in guiding national conservation assessments and initiatives.
The Singapore Bird Race has been supported by main sponsor Mapletree Investments since 2019.
The theme this year is “Asia’s Vanishing Songbirds: The Bird Trade”. This year’s race hopes to spotlight the impact of the songbird trade in Asia while bridging local birding appreciation with pressing regional conservation needs.
Celebrate our songbirds and raise awareness for their conservation.
Race Details
Date: 14 – 15 November 2026 (Saturday – Sunday)
Venue for Flag Off:
1) Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park (Promenade)
2) Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve (Visitor Centre)
**Teams will be assigned their flag-off location by category.
Award & Closing Ceremony Details
Date: 15 November 2026 (Sunday)
Time: 1.45 pm – 4.00 pm
Venue: Town Hall of Mapletree Business City (MBC)
Tentative Programme
14 Nov (Sat)
1200 – Remote flag-off for Marathon
15 Nov (Sun)
0730 – In-person flag off for Sprint, Novice, Family, Youth and School (Primary)
1000 – Race ends for School (Primary) + Submission at BAMK
1200 – Race ends for Marathon + Submissions at MBC
1230 – Race ends for Sprint, Novice, Family, and Youth + Submission at MBC
1245 – Closing Ceremony
1330 – Buffet Lunch & Post-race Activities
1415 – Award Presentation
1530 – End
The theme for this year’s Singapore Bird Race focuses on the Asian caged songbird trade: a widespread phenomenon across Asia, particularly in Southeast Asia. The trade exists at the intersection of social, economic, and cultural life.
Although the motivations driving the trade vary widely, one concern remains universal — the unsustainable harvesting of birds from the wild to supply the trade has contributed to the decline of many native songbird populations across the region.
In line with this year’s theme, the race spotlights the Critically Endangered Straw-headed Bulbul, which is heavily poached for its beautiful song.
Through the 2026 Singapore Bird Race, we hope to shine a light on this complex issue and encourage greater awareness, understanding, and dialogue. By fostering informed conversations, we aim to support efforts towards a more sustainable future for both people and wild songbirds.
14 Nov, 12.00 pm -
15 Nov, 12.00 pm
3 - 4 members per team
For extreme birdwatchers
24 hours long
15 Nov
7.30 am - 12:30 pm
3 - 4 members per team
For advanced birdwatchers
5 hours long
15 Nov
7.30 am - 12.30 pm
3 - 4 members per team
For novice birdwatchers (i.e. 2 or less years of experience)
5 hours long
15 Nov
7.30 am - 12.30 pm
2 - 4 members per team
At least 1 parent & 1 child
of 12 years old or below
5 hours long
15 Nov
7.30 am - 10.00 am
3 - 4 members per team
Accompanied by a teacher
2.5 hours long
15 Nov
7.30 am - 12.30 pm
3 - 4 members per team
5 hours long
15 Nov
7.30 am - 12.30 pm
No limitations
5 hours long
Please note the following:
1. All categories, except School (Primary), will be required to submit photos of their observations via memory card along with their logsheets.
2. There is no ‘Photographer’ category this year.
Citizen Science
As part of NSS’ commitment to citizen science, log sheets from the bird race will be uploaded onto eBird. Images submitted might be used to verify these observations .
Registration is open now to 16 October 2026 (Friday) on Eventbrite!
Registration Fees
Payment has to be made when registering.
Please ensure that you register as a team and fill in all the required details of your team members.
Teams who have successfully registered will receive a confirmation email and more details (Rules & Conditions, etc.) in the weeks leading up to the race.
Should you have any enquiries, please contact us at [email protected].
Missed the registration deadline? Still keen to join us for the 42nd Singapore Bird Race? Drop us an email to enquire about late registration!
Gear up for the race and sign up for the upcoming pre-race talks and walks open to the public.
Click on the events below to learn more and register.
Open to Public
Birdwatching for Beginners at
Bishan – Ang Mo Kio Park
20 Sep, Sat
2.00 pm – 3.30 pm
SBR Early Bird Benefit: Birdwatching at Gardens by the Bay
27 Sep, Sat
7.30 am – 10.30 am
Online Talk: Strategies for Winning a Bird Race
11 Oct, Sat
2.00 pm – 3.00 pm
[Talk] Capturing Nature’s Unexpected Moments & Stories
by Alan Owyong, Veteran Birder
19 Sep (Sat), 2pm
Nature Society Singapore Office
Sign up here!
[Walk] Birdwatching at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve
by Veronica Foo, NSS Bird Group Chair 20 Sep (Sun), 7.30am Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve
Sign up here!
[Talk] The Tragedy of the Song Bird Trade
by Serene Chng, Traffic International 21 Sep (Mon), 8pm Online via Zoom
Sign up here!
[Walk] Birdwatching at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve
by Yong Ding Li, NSS Bird Group Member 3 Oct (Sat), 7.30am Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve
Registration coming soon! Early Bird Promo – sign up for SBR as a full team and get priority!
Donation Campaign: Supporting Citizen Science for Biodiversity Conservation
The Singapore Bird Race is more than a day of birdwatching. Every bird we spot, identify and record helps us learn more about the species that share our island and the habitats they depend on.
But protecting Singapore’s biodiversity is an ongoing effort that requires more than the work of conservation organisations alone. Through citizen science, members of the public can play a meaningful role in observing, recording and monitoring our wildlife. These efforts contribute valuable data to conservation research, while helping people foster greater appreciation and care for the world we share.
We invite you to support Nature Society Singapore’s Supporting Citizen Science for Biodiversity Conservation campaign on Giving.sg. Your contribution will help strengthen citizen science programmes, equip volunteers with the skills to monitor wildlife, and grow a stronger community of nature stewards through education and outreach.
Every contribution goes further. From 13 July 2026 to 31 December 2026, every dollar you give will be matched by 50% under the Tote Board’s Enhanced Fundraising Programme for the campaign, “Supporting Citizen Science for Biodiversity Conservation”, furthering your impact locally.
Help us keep this work going. Visit NSS’s GivingSG page to donate or learn more.
Held from 15 – 16 November 2025, the 40th Singapore Bird Race saw another year of record-breaking participation, attracting over 460 participants of all ages. A total of 138 teams competed across the seven categories – Marathon, Sprint, Photographer, Novice, Family, Youth and School (Primary).
Together, participants spotted a total of 166 species during the race.
There was strong participation from the society’s members and the wider community including businesses, academic institutions, government bodies, school students, and the general public.
Notable Species Sightings
Hard-to-spot Residents of Singapore:
Uncommon Migratory Birds in Singapore:
Species with global conservation concern:
The theme this year is “Woodland Birds”, highlighting the importance of conserving our remaining patches of woodlands. Despite fragmentation, these patches are home to many species that are adapting to survive in our city.
Date: 15 – 16 November 2025 (Saturday – Sunday)
Time: See programme below; Varies by categories
Venue for Flag Off:Date: 16 November 2025 (Sunday)
Time: 1.45 pm – 3.00 pm
Venue: Town Hall of Mapletree Business City (MBC)
Programme on 16 November 2025 (Sunday)| Category | Champions | No. of Species |
|---|---|---|
| School (Primary) | Girl Power | 46 |
| Youth | Skibidi Soarers | 73 |
| Novice | Salmon Tamago Rollies | 51 |
| Family | SSKY Birders | 83 |
| Photographer | Close Encounters of the Bird Kind | 52 |
| Sprint | Magpie Rappers | 88 |
| Marathon | Team Dippers | 122 |
Team “Respect” with Mr. Tan Gim Cheong, Chairman NSS Bird Group
Primary
Respect (Yumin Primary)
Species Spotted
42
<span data-metadata=""><span data-buffer="">Perseverance
(Yumin Primary)
Species Spotted
39
<span data-metadata=""><span data-buffer="">Rainbow
Species Spotted
36
<span data-metadata=""><span data-buffer="">Compassion (Yumin Primary)
Species Spotted
34
Team “Thunder Ducks” with Mr. Kan Shik Lum (Guest-of-honour)
Youth
<span data-metadata=""><span data-buffer="">Thunder Ducks (Dunman Secondary)
Species Spotted
50
<span data-metadata=""><span data-metadata=""><span data-buffer="">Chunky Monkey (Dunman Secondary)
Species Spotted
49
<span data-metadata=""><span data-metadata=""><span data-buffer="">Bee-eaters 4 (Beatty Secondary)
Species Spotted
48
<span data-metadata=""><span data-metadata=""><span data-buffer="">Bee-eaters 3 (Beatty Secondary)
Species Spotted
45
Team “SSKY Birders” with Mr. Kan Shik Lum (Guest-of-honour)
Family
<span data-metadata=""><span data-buffer="">SSKY Birders
Species Spotted
69
<span data-metadata=""><span data-metadata=""><span data-buffer="">The Fun Falconerds
Species Spotted
63
<span data-metadata=""><span data-metadata=""><span data-buffer="">Clickid
Species Spotted
60
<span data-metadata=""><span data-metadata=""><span data-buffer="">3 Gen Drongoes
Species Spotted
53
Team “Bob the Birder” with Mr. Kan Shik Lum (Guest-of-honour)
Novice
<span data-metadata=""><span data-buffer="">Bob the Builders
Species Spotted
58
<span data-metadata=""><span data-metadata=""><span data-buffer="">Xtinct Tweets
Species Spotted
56
<span data-metadata=""><span data-metadata=""><span data-buffer="">Uric Acid
Species Spotted
49
<span data-metadata=""><span data-metadata=""><span data-buffer="">WCHB
Species Spotted
48
Team “Meaningful Watching” with Mr. Kan Shik Lum (Guest-of-honour)
Photographer
<span data-metadata=""><span data-buffer="">Meaningful Watching
Species Spotted
77
<span data-metadata=""><span data-metadata=""><span data-buffer="">Singapore Stringers
Species Spotted
76
<span data-metadata=""><span data-metadata=""><span data-buffer="">Cannot See Feet
Species Spotted
56
<span data-metadata=""><span data-metadata=""><span data-buffer="">Long-nailed Pair-o-feet
Species Spotted
50
Team “Melodious Babblers” with Mr. Wan Kwong Weng, Group Chief Corporate Officer, Mapletree Investments
Sprint
<span data-metadata=""><span data-buffer="">Melodious Blabbers
Species Spotted
70
<span data-metadata=""><span data-metadata=""><span data-buffer="">Chill Cuckoos
Species Spotted
62
<span data-metadata=""><span data-metadata=""><span data-buffer="">Great Argus
Species Spotted
62
<span data-metadata=""><span data-metadata=""><span data-buffer="">Birds-I-View
Species Spotted
61
Team “Team Dippers” with Mr. Wan Kwong Weng, Group Chief Corporate Officer, Mapletree Investments.
Marathon
<span data-metadata=""><span data-buffer="">Team Dippers
Species Spotted
119
<span data-metadata=""><span data-metadata=""><span data-buffer="">The Watchers
Species Spotted
83
<span data-metadata=""><span data-metadata=""><span data-buffer="">Birdens
Species Spotted
78
<span data-metadata=""><span data-metadata=""><span data-buffer="">Birdinging
Species Spotted
72
3 - 4 members per team
For extreme birdwatchers
24 hours long
3 - 4 members per team
For advanced birdwatchers
5 hours long
3 - 4 members per team
For novice birdwatchers (i.e., 2 or less years of experience)
5 hours long
2 - 4 members per team
At least 1 parent & 1 child
of 12 years old or below
5 hours long
2 members per team
4.5 hours long
3 - 4 members per team
4.5 hours long
3 - 4 members per team
Accompanied by a teacher
2 hours long
Registration for the 39th Singapore Bird Race has closed.
Stay tuned for our 40th run!
For queries, clarifications or updates regarding the Singapore Bird Race, contact us at [email protected]
