South Island Robin
South Island RobinSouth Island RobinSouth Island RobinSouth Island Robin

South Island Robin

Petroica australis

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered Endemic
70–80% · Very likely
overall probability at Arthur's Pass National Park
345 Verified records at Arthur's Pass National Park
February Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

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. Wikipedia →

70–80% of wildlife watchers report a South Island Robin sighting in Arthur's Pass National Park, based on 345 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Arthur's Pass National Park

Miromiro
LC Endemic

Miromiro

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Petroica macrocephala

80–90% · Very likely
New Zealand Bellbird
LC Endemic

New Zealand Bellbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Anthornis melanura

90–100% · Very likely
Chaffinch
LC

Chaffinch

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Fringilla coelebs

80–90% · Very likely
Grey Warbler
LC Endemic

Grey Warbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Gerygone igata

80–90% · Very likely
Eurasian Blackbird
LC Endemic

Eurasian Blackbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Turdus merula

70–80% · Very likely
New Zealand Fantail
LC Endemic

New Zealand Fantail

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Rhipidura fuliginosa

70–80% · Very likely
Silvereye
LC Endemic

Silvereye

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Zosterops lateralis

60–70% · Likely
Rifleman
LC Endemic

Rifleman

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Acanthisitta chloris

60–70% · Likely
Song Thrush
LC

Song Thrush

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Turdus philomelos

50–60% · Likely
Common Redpoll
LC

Common Redpoll

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Acanthis flammea

50–60% · Likely
Welcome Swallow
LC

Welcome Swallow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Hirundo neoxena

50–60% · Likely
Dunnock
LC

Dunnock

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Prunella modularis

50–60% · Likely

📅 Monthly Probability

70–80
Jan
90–100
Feb
80–90
Mar
70–80
Apr
60–70
May
80–90
Jun
70–80
Jul
70–80
Aug
50–60
Sep
50–60
Oct
60–70
Nov
70–80
Dec

☀️ When They're Spotted

Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)

☀️Diurnal
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is)  ·  parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Probability
1 Arthur's Pass National Park 🇳🇿 New Zealand
70–80%
2 Rakiura National Park 🇳🇿 New Zealand
50–60%
3 Fiordland National Park 🇳🇿 New Zealand
30–40%
4 Tongariro National Park 🇳🇿 New Zealand
30–40%
5 Abel Tasman National Park 🇳🇿 New Zealand
5–10%
6 Aoraki Mount Cook National Park 🇳🇿 New Zealand
<5%

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a South Island Robin in Arthur's Pass National Park?

About 73% of wildlife watchers report a South Island Robin sighting in Arthur's Pass National Park, based on 345 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see South Island Robin in Arthur's Pass National Park?

February has the highest sighting rate for South Island Robin in Arthur's Pass National Park in our monthly data.

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