North Island Robin | Toutouwai (Petroica longipes)

The North Island Robin, known as Toutouwai in Māori, is a small bird endemic to the North Island of New Zealand. They are recognized by their erect stance and relatively long legs, and spend much time foraging on the ground. Their diet consists mainly of invertebrates, including cicadas, earthworms, wētā, snails, and spiders, as well as small ripe fruit in summer and autumn.

The North Island Robin is found in native and exotic forests, mainly in the central North Island from Taranaki through to the Bay of Plenty. They are territorial species, with males inhabiting the same patch of mainland forest throughout their lives. The North Island Robin is classified as ‘Declining’ due to habitat loss and predation by introduced mammals such as feral cats, stoats, possums, and ship rats.