The New Zealand Robin is a delightful endemic bird to see when tramping. Here are 8 facts to help you appreciate this special bird.
I used to live in the Rocky Mountains of the USA and we would often see Robins flying about. They were a common sign in the spring that winter was over and summer was on the way. It turns out that the New Zealand Robin looks nothing like the Robin in the USA. The New Zealand Robin is also not very common and is always cool to see when you are out in the bush.
8 Facts About New Zealand Robin
Most of the native animals of New Zealand have several names – the common name, a Maori name, and the scientific name. Sometimes they are the same and some times they’re different. The Maori name for the NZ Robin is Toutouwai.
There are actually 3 different species of Robin in New Zealand – the North Island, South Island, and Stewart Island. Each of the three main islands has its own species. They are all smallish, sparrow sized birds (about 18 cm). They have long legs for their bodies. The South Island Robin has a dark grey head, neck, and back with a white to yellowish belly. The North Island Robin is more of an overall grayish color with a small patch of white on its belly.
The South Island Robin can be found in patches throughout the South Island. The North Island Robin used to live all over the island, but now can mainly be found around the central part of the island.
These birds are very friendly and trusting of people. In fact, if you are lucky and hold still you may see one come very close to you. We’ve even had the South Island Robin hop on our boot as we watched and held super still.
Toutouwai can often be seen foraging for food on the forest floor. They are most often seen in native bush, but can also be be found in secondary bush, shrub, and even plantation forests.
Robins spend a lot of their time on the ground looking for food. They eat lots of insects. Additionally, these birds sometimes eat cicadas, earthworms, and tree wetas.
The population of the South Island Robin decreased as Europeans settled and cleared forest for farmland. Their numbers are at a low level now. The current biggest threat is from introduced mammal predators, mainly stoats, feral cats, possums, and ship rats.
These birds are very territorial and the males can be quite aggressive towards each other, especially during the breeding season (July – December). Robins are not very long lived birds, with an average lifespan of only 3 years.
Here are some recordings of the Robins sounds: Male North Island Robin, an adult North Island Robin giving an alarm call, a South Island male robin.