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

South Island Robin

Petroica australis

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered Endemic
30–40% · Possible
overall probability at Fiordland National Park
652 Verified records at Fiordland 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 →

30–40% of wildlife watchers report a South Island Robin sighting in Fiordland National Park, based on 652 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Fiordland National Park

Miromiro
LC Endemic

Miromiro

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Petroica macrocephala

40–50% · Likely
Chaffinch
LC

Chaffinch

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Fringilla coelebs

60–70% · Likely
New Zealand Fantail
LC Endemic

New Zealand Fantail

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Rhipidura fuliginosa

60–70% · Likely
New Zealand Bellbird
LC Endemic

New Zealand Bellbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Anthornis melanura

50–60% · Likely
Eurasian Blackbird
LC Endemic

Eurasian Blackbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Turdus merula

50–60% · Likely
Tūī
LC Endemic

Tūī

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae

50–60% · Likely
Grey Warbler
LC Endemic

Grey Warbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Gerygone igata

50–60% · Likely
Welcome Swallow
LC

Welcome Swallow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Hirundo neoxena

50–60% · Likely
Silvereye
LC Endemic

Silvereye

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Zosterops lateralis

40–50% · Possible
Common Redpoll
LC

Common Redpoll

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Acanthis flammea

30–40% · Possible
Song Thrush
LC

Song Thrush

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Turdus philomelos

30–40% · Possible
European Starling
LC Endemic

European Starling

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Sturnus vulgaris

30–40% · Possible

📅 Monthly Probability

30–40
Jan
40–50
Feb
30–40
Mar
30–40
Apr
30–40
May
30–40
Jun
20–30
Jul
20–30
Aug
20–30
Sep
30–40
Oct
40–50
Nov
30–40
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 Fiordland National Park?

About 38% of wildlife watchers report a South Island Robin sighting in Fiordland National Park, based on 652 days of visitor records 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.

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