New Zealand Scaup
Aythya novaeseelandiae
Silhouette: Andy Wilson · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderAnseriformes (Waterfowl)
- FamilyAnatidae (Ducks, Geese, and Swans)
- GenusAythya (Scaups, Pochards, and Allies)
- SpeciesAythya novaeseelandiae (New Zealand Scaup)
About the New Zealand Scaup
The New Zealand scaup (Aythya novaeseelandiae), also known as the black teal (or pāpango and several other names in Māori), is a diving duck species of the genus Aythya endemic to New Zealand. They weigh around 650 grams (23 oz) and measure around 40 centimetres (16 in), and have dark-coloured plumage. They are found throughout New Zealand in deep natural and man-made lakes and ponds.
New Zealand scaup lay around 7 eggs and the ducklings are immediately capable of diving to feed. Adult scaups can dive to at least 3 metres and for as long as a minute for aquatic plants and invertebrates. Scaups started declining in the late 1800s until they were fully protected in 1934, and their population is now increasing thanks to predator control and new habitat.
The New Zealand scaup was formally described in 1789 by the German naturalist Johann Friedrich Gmelin in his revised and expanded edition of Carl Linnaeus's Systema Naturae. He placed it with all the ducks, geese and swans in the genus Anas and coined the binomial name Anas novaeseelandiae. Gmelin based his description of the "New-Zealand duck" that had been described in 1785 by the English ornithologist John Latham in his... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of New Zealand Scaup in Abel Tasman National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Abel Tasman National Park
Paradise Shelduck
Tadorna variegata
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos
Canada Goose
Branta canadensis
Pacific Black Duck
Anas superciliosa
Black Swan
Cygnus atratus
Australasian Shoveler
Spatula rhynchotis
Grey Teal
Anas gracilis
Brown Teal
Anas chlorotis
Blue Duck
Hymenolaimus malacorhynchos
Plumed Whistling Duck
Dendrocygna eytoni
Australian Wood Duck
Chenonetta jubata
Muscovy Duck
Cairina moschata
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fiordland National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 2 | Tongariro National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 3 | Abel Tasman National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 4 | Aoraki Mount Cook National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 5 | Arthur's Pass National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | |
| 6 | Rakiura National Park | 🇳🇿 New Zealand |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a New Zealand Scaup in Abel Tasman National Park?
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a New Zealand Scaup sighting in Abel Tasman National Park, based on 78 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see New Zealand Scaup in Abel Tasman National Park?
September has the highest sighting rate for New Zealand Scaup in Abel Tasman National Park in our monthly data.