A strange bird known for its unusual traits, including vomiting, peculiar sounds, and a bizarre mating dance, has been crowned New Zealand's annual avian beauty contest. Comedian John Oliver's playful campaign on his HBO show "Last Week Tonight" rallied people around the world to vote for the bird.

The Puteketeke, also recognized as the Australasian crested grebe, is a long-necked diving waterbird native to Australia, New Zealand, and the neighbouring islands.

The bird's distinct appearance, charming parenting behaviour, and tendency to vomit contributed to its unexpected victory in the special edition of the competition, renamed Bird of the Century to celebrate Forest and Bird's centennial.

New Zealand's independent conservation group, Forest & Bird, organizes the Bird of the Century competition annually to promote awareness of the country's native birds. This year, in honour of Forest & Bird's 100th anniversary, the traditional Bird of the Year contest has been temporarily renamed "Bird of the Century."

Numerous campaign managers have enlisted to support their preferred bird species. Forest & Bird encourages participants to share their voting choices with their communities and friends, both in person and on social media. Each individual is allowed to cast votes for up to five birds.

Photo: The Puteketeke- Weird puking bird wins New Zealand's bird contest

The competition has garnered significant attention both domestically and internationally. Following a historic two-week clash of birds, the Puteketeke now proudly dons the sought-after Bird of the Century crown, accentuating its distinctive burnt-orange mullet.

Forest & Bird chief executive Nicola Toki remarks, "Puteketeke began as an outside contender for Bird of the Century but was catapulted to the top spot thanks to its unique looks, adorable parenting style, and propensity for puking,"

John Oliver's role in bird competition

According to DW news, the Puteketeke, humorously referred to as the "weird puking bird," secured an unexpected victory. The victory came about when John Oliver identified a loophole in the competition rules that permitted individuals from all corners of the globe to participate in the voting process.

Oliver initiated an extensive campaign, rallying people worldwide to cast their votes for the bird. He strategically placed billboards for "The Lord of the Wings" in Wellington, New Zealand, as well as in major cities such as Paris, Tokyo, London, and Mumbai, India. Additionally, he orchestrated a plane with a banner to soar over Ipanema Beach in Brazil and donned an oversized bird costume on Jimmy Fallon's "The Tonight Show."

The overwhelming response resulted in a flood of votes for Puteketeke, prompting organizers to postpone the announcement of the winning bird by two days. The competition amassed over 350,000 verified votes from individuals in 195 countries.

_{Photo: Bangkok Post, CBS News}

_{(With Input from DW News)}