---
title: "New Zealand Rockwren"
description: "Xenicus gilviventris — Birds. The New Zealand rock wren (Xenicus gilviventris) is a small New Zealand wren (family Acanthisittidae) endemic to the South Island of New Zealand."
canonical: https://animalchecklist.com/animal/new-zealand-rockwren
last_updated: 2026-09-20
---

# New Zealand Rockwren

> Xenicus gilviventris — Birds. The New Zealand rock wren (Xenicus gilviventris) is a small New Zealand wren (family Acanthisittidae) endemic to the South Island of New Zealand.

- Scientific name: *Xenicus gilviventris*
- Category: `birds` (Birds)
- Habitats: `mountains` (Mountains)
- iNaturalist observations: 4090
- Wikidata: [Q135589](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q135589)
- iNaturalist taxon: [7263](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/7263)

## Names

- en: New Zealand Rockwren
- de: Felsschlüpfer
- es: Acantisita Roquero
- fr: Xénique des rochers
- nl: Rotswinterkoning
- pt: Carriça-das-rochas
- pl: Łazik skalny

## Countries with the most observations

NZ (493)

## Summary

The New Zealand rock wren (Xenicus gilviventris) is a small New Zealand wren (family Acanthisittidae) endemic to the South Island of New Zealand. Its Māori names include pīwauwau ("little complaining bird"), mātuitui, and tuke ("twitch", after its bobbing motion). Outside New Zealand it is sometimes known as the rockwren to distinguish it from the unrelated rock wren of North America.
The rock wren is currently restricted to alpine and subalpine areas of the South Island. It is a poor flier and highly terrestrial, feeding in low scrub, open scree, and rockfalls. The rock wren and rifleman are the only two surviving…

Text: Wikipedia (en), CC BY-SA 4.0 — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Zealand_rock_wren

## Photo

![New Zealand Rockwren](https://animalchecklist.com/img/animals/new-zealand-rockwren/medium.jpg)

Photo: Carey_Knox_Southern_Scales · CC0 · inaturalist — https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/111140098

## Machine access

`GET https://animalchecklist.com/api/v1/animals/new-zealand-rockwren?lang=en` — see [openapi.json](https://animalchecklist.com/openapi.json).