North Island Robin

Overview

The North Island robin (Petroica longipes) is a species of Australasian robin endemic to the North Island of New Zealand. Classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, there are estimated to be more than 10,000 individuals remaining.

Identification

• Dark grey-black plumage with a pale area on the belly and breast, and pale streaking on the upperparts.
• Sexually dimorphic, with males having darker plumage than females and being slightly larger.
• A hidden patch of white feathers at the base of the beak, which is occasionally 'flashed' during interactions.

Habitat

Distributed mostly in the centre of the North Island, with relict and re-established populations on several islands and in sanctuaries across the region. Natural habitat consists of native forest, particularly Podocarpus and southern beech (Nothofagaceae) forests, from sea level up to the tree-line.

Diet

Terrestrial foragers that use perch-hunting and active searching to capture invertebrates from leaf-litter, low vegetation, and tree trunks, as well as consuming fruit. They cache excess food supplies when prey is too large to be consumed in one sitting or when prey is plentiful.

Did you know?

These birds demonstrate adept numerical competency and long-term spatial memory, with cognitive performance linked to reproductive success in the wild. They are also known to steal food from their mate's cache when the mate is present.