New Zealand Scaup (Aythya novaeseelandiae)
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New Zealand Scaup

Aythya novaeseelandiae (Gmelin, JF, 1789)

40 cmLength682 gWeight

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.

Busiest months: November · Most records: New Zealand, Australia, United Kingdom

Least Concern

Where and when it's recorded

Busiest months: November · Most records: New Zealand, Australia, United Kingdom

New Zealand Scaup has been recorded at 96 of the 8,276 birding hotspots we track, in 3 countries and regions.

Records by month Southern Hemisphere

Where it's recorded most

  1. Zealandia Te Mara a Tane Wildlife SanctuaryNew Zealand1,139 records
  2. Lake ElterwaterNew Zealand766 records
  3. Fiordland NP – Mirror LakesNew Zealand712 records
More places
  1. Christchurch – Botanic GardensNew Zealand622 records
  2. St Anne's Lagoon/Mata KopaeNew Zealand557 records
  3. Wānaka – Lake foreshoreNew Zealand482 records
  4. Christchurch – Wigram Retention BasinNew Zealand443 records
  5. Rotorua – Sulphur PointNew Zealand439 records
  6. Pegasus Wetlands N of Tiritiri Moana DrNew Zealand429 records
  7. Tokaanu Old Wharf RdNew Zealand429 records

Countries and regions with the most records

New ZealandAustraliaUnited Kingdom

eBird records via GBIF up to 2024-12-31. A record means someone listed it; more records partly mean more birders, not more birds.

About

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.

Excerpt from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0 · authors · Read more on Wikipedia

Questions

How big is the New Zealand Scaup?

The New Zealand Scaup is about 40 cm long and weighs around 682 g.

Where does the New Zealand Scaup live?

Its breeding range: Australasia: North and South Islands (New Zealand). It is most often recorded in New Zealand, Australia and United Kingdom.

When is the best time to see the New Zealand Scaup?

At the hotspots we track, it is recorded most in November (Southern Hemisphere).

Is the New Zealand Scaup endangered?

The IUCN Red List classifies the New Zealand Scaup as Least Concern.

What does the New Zealand Scaup eat?

Main food: Aquatic plants.

What family is the New Zealand Scaup in?

It belongs to the family Ducks, Geese, Swans (Anatidae), order Anseriformes.

At a glance

Length
40 cm
Weight
682 g
Habitat
Wetland
Diet
Aquatic plants
Lifestyle
On the water surface
Migration
Partial migrant
Conservation
Least Concern
More measurements
Wing
177 mm
Tail
49 mm
Bill
38 mm
Tarsus
28 mm

Averages from the AVONET dataset; length from field guides where available.

Range

Australasia: North and South Islands (New Zealand)

Breeding range, IOC World Bird List 15.2

Classification

Family
Ducks, Geese, Swans Anatidae
Genus
Aythya

Other birds in the genus Aythya

CanvasbackCanvasbackAythya valisineriaRedheadRedheadAythya americanaCommon PochardCommon PochardAythya ferinaHardheadHardheadAythya australisMadagascar PochardMadagascar PochardAythya innotataBaer's PochardBaer's PochardAythya baeriFerruginous DuckFerruginous DuckAythya nyrocaRing-necked DuckRing-necked DuckAythya collarisTufted DuckTufted DuckAythya fuligulaGreater ScaupGreater ScaupAythya marilaLesser ScaupLesser ScaupAythya affinis
New Zealand Scaup

Download illustration

Free to use with credit: “Illustration: Bird Album (birdalbum.com)”. Drawn by AI from a reference photo by Ashley M Bradford. ↗

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