South Island robin - kakaruai - Petroica australis

Diet Insects and bugs

Breeding October and November. They build a large nest of moss firmly woven and then lined with what appears to be the fine hair of tree ferns (very itchy if it gets down your shirt!).

General New Zealand robins are cheerful and busy little birds that will flit nearby like you would expect of a fantail, possibly to catch insects disturbed as you move about. The robin will even occasionally land on your shoulder. It's usually the last to be quite at night and performs a different tune for dawn than for dusk. There are several sub species of robin. I suspect the two top images are female while the bottom photograph is of a male robin.

Photos © Steve Reekie