South Island Robin
Petroica australis
- Class
- Bird
- Rarity
- Common
- Observations
- 3,926
- Most observed in
- 🇳🇿 New Zealand
- Conservation
- Least Concern
Description
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 adapted from the Wikipedia article “South Island robin”.