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

South Island Robin

Petroica australis

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered Endemic
50–60% · Likely
overall probability at Rakiura National Park
740 Verified records at Rakiura National Park
May 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 →

50–60% of wildlife watchers report a South Island Robin sighting in Rakiura National Park, based on 740 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Rakiura National Park

Miromiro
LC Endemic

Miromiro

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Petroica macrocephala

30–40% · Possible
Tūī
LC Endemic

Tūī

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae

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

New Zealand Bellbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Anthornis melanura

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

New Zealand Fantail

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Rhipidura fuliginosa

70–80% · Very likely
Grey Warbler
LC Endemic

Grey Warbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Gerygone igata

60–70% · Likely
Mōhua (Yellowhead)
NT Endemic

Mōhua (Yellowhead)

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Mohoua ochrocephala

40–50% · Likely
Eurasian Blackbird
LC Endemic

Eurasian Blackbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Turdus merula

40–50% · Likely
South Island Saddleback
LC Endemic

South Island Saddleback

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Philesturnus carunculatus

40–50% · Likely
Chaffinch
LC

Chaffinch

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Fringilla coelebs

30–40% · Possible
European Starling
LC Endemic

European Starling

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Sturnus vulgaris

30–40% · Possible
Dunnock
LC

Dunnock

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Prunella modularis

30–40% · Possible
Welcome Swallow
LC

Welcome Swallow

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Hirundo neoxena

30–40% · Possible

📅 Monthly Probability

50–60
Jan
50–60
Feb
50–60
Mar
50–60
Apr
50–60
May
50–60
Jun
40–50
Jul
50–60
Aug
30–40
Sep
40–50
Oct
50–60
Nov
50–60
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 Rakiura National Park?

About 52% of wildlife watchers report a South Island Robin sighting in Rakiura National Park, based on 740 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see South Island Robin in Rakiura National Park?

May has the highest sighting rate for South Island Robin in Rakiura National Park in our monthly data.

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