New Zealand Scaup
Aythya novaeseelandiae
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Cordats)
- ClassAves (Aus)
- OrderAnseriformes
- FamilyAnatidae (Anàtids)
- GenusAythya (Scaups, Pochards, and Allies)
- SpeciesAythya novaeseelandiae (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. Wikipedia →
10–20% of wildlife watchers report a New Zealand Scaup sighting in Tongariro National Park, based on 42 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
Closest Relatives at Tongariro National Park
Blue Duck
Hymenolaimus malacorhynchos
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos
Paradise Shelduck
Tadorna variegata
Pacific Black Duck
Anas superciliosa
Black Swan
Cygnus atratus
Canada Goose
Branta canadensis
Grey Teal
Anas gracilis
Australasian Shoveler
Spatula rhynchotis
📅 Monthly Probability
☀️ When They're Spotted
Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)
Global Distribution
Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.
where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | 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 Tongariro National Park?
About 12% of wildlife watchers report a New Zealand Scaup sighting in Tongariro National Park, based on 42 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see New Zealand Scaup in Tongariro National Park?
September has the highest sighting rate for New Zealand Scaup in Tongariro National Park in our monthly data.