South Island Robin
Petroica australis
Silhouette: Sheatherius · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderPasseriformes (Perching Birds)
- FamilyPetroicidae (Australasian Robins)
- GenusPetroica (Typical Australasian Robins)
- SpeciesPetroica australis (South Island Robin)
About the South Island Robin
The South Island robin (Petroica australis; also known in Māori as the kakaruai) is a sparrow-sized bird found only in New Zealand, where it has the status of a protected endemic species. The birds are sparsely distributed through the South Island and Stewart Island / Rakiura, although the distribution is not continuous. The nominate, and the Stewart Island robin (P. australis rakiura) are the two subspecies. The species is closely related to the North Island robin (formerly P. australis longipes, now considered a distinct species), and also to the extremely rare black robin (P. traversi) of the Chatham Islands.
The South Island robin has two subspecies: P. australis australis, the nominate form, and P. australis rakiura, the Stewart Island robin. These subspecies do not overlap in their distributions. The North Island robin (P. longipes), the tomtit (Petroica macrocephala), and the black robin (Petroica traversi) in the Chatham Islands are closely related species. P. traversi seems to be a Chatham Island derivative of P. australis, although the position of the most recent common ancestor has yet to be determined. The family Petroicidae of Australasian robins has a total... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of South Island Robin in Fiordland National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Fiordland National Park
Miromiro
Petroica macrocephala
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Rhipidura fuliginosa
New Zealand Bellbird
Anthornis melanura
Eurasian Blackbird
Turdus merula
Tūī
Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae
Grey Warbler
Gerygone igata
Welcome Swallow
Hirundo neoxena
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Zosterops lateralis
Common Redpoll
Acanthis flammea
Song Thrush
Turdus philomelos
European Starling
Sturnus vulgaris
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arthur's Pass National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 2 | Rakiura National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 3 | Fiordland National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 4 | Tongariro National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 5 | Egmont National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 6 | Abel Tasman National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 7 | Aoraki Mount Cook National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a South Island Robin in Fiordland National Park?
About 40% of wildlife watchers report a South Island Robin sighting in Fiordland National Park, based on 2,010 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see South Island Robin in Fiordland National Park?
February has the highest sighting rate for South Island Robin in Fiordland National Park in our monthly data.