South Island Robin
Photo: Pseudopanax at English Wikipedia · Public domain

Australasian Robins

South Island Robin

Petroica australis

LCLeast Concern Endemic to New Zealand
Family
Australasian Robins (Petroicidae)
Order
Passeriformes

Overview

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.

Summary from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Range and habitat

Continents

Countries

Sources and further reading

Last updated September 29, 2026.