DSC_3360 Stewart Island robin, or toutouwai (Petroica australis rakiura) male on branch in coastal scrub. While robins spend much time foraging on the ground, they scan from perches for prey, as seen here. They seem to favour moist areas in open forest, where there is an open understorey under a closed canopy on fertile soils. Ulva Island *
11001-82107 Black robin, or kakaruia (Petroica traversi) in the early nineteen seventies, the 'cliff' male was often the first robin heard on the climb up Little Mangere - usually just below the knotted rope. After five birds were shifted in the 1976 rescue, he took over the entire western end of Little Mangere *
11001-82007 Black robin, or kakaruia (Petroica traversi) originally known as the 'south east' female when this photo was taken on Little Mangere Island in 1975, 'old blue' became the most famous of all black robins following the rescue in September 1976 *
