The two subspecies of South Island Robin were formerly treated as being conspecific with North Island Robin but are now recognised to be separate species.
They are predominantly terrestrial in their habits and are usually found hopping around the forest floor or perched in low branches.
Even amongst a family well known for its lack of fear of humans, New Zealand Robins are exceptionally tame. The individual featured in the photos above and below bounced up the length of my arm whilst I was lying on the ground trying to photograph it with a 100mm macro lens!
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