South Island Robin
Petroica australis
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Cordats)
- ClassAves (Aus)
- OrderPasseriformes
- FamilyPetroicidae (Australasian Robins)
- GenusPetroica (Typical Australasian Robins)
- SpeciesPetroica australis (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. Wikipedia →
30–40% of wildlife watchers report a South Island Robin sighting in Tongariro National Park, based on 122 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
Closest Relatives at Tongariro National Park
Miromiro
Petroica macrocephala
New Zealand Fantail
Rhipidura fuliginosa
Chaffinch
Fringilla coelebs
Silvereye
Zosterops lateralis
Tūī
Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae
Grey Warbler
Gerygone igata
Eurasian Blackbird
Turdus merula
Welcome Swallow
Hirundo neoxena
New Zealand Bellbird
Anthornis melanura
Popokatea
Mohoua albicilla
Song Thrush
Turdus philomelos
European Starling
Sturnus vulgaris
📅 Monthly Probability
☀️ When They're Spotted
Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)
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 | |
| 2 | Rakiura National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 3 | Fiordland National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 4 | Tongariro National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 5 | Abel Tasman National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 6 | Aoraki Mount Cook National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a South Island Robin in Tongariro National Park?
About 34% of wildlife watchers report a South Island Robin sighting in Tongariro National Park, based on 122 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see South Island Robin in Tongariro National Park?
December has the highest sighting rate for South Island Robin in Tongariro National Park in our monthly data.