| New Zealand Scaup | |
|---|---|
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| Male | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Anseriformes |
| Family: | Anatidae |
| Genus: | Aythya |
| Species: | A. novaeseelandiae |
| Binomial name | |
| Aythya novaeseelandiae (Gmelin, 1789) |
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The New Zealand Scaup (Aythya novaeseelandiae) commonly known as a Black teal, is a diving duck species of the genus Aythya. It is endemic to New Zealand. In Maori commonly known as papango, also matapouri, titiporangi, raipo [1].
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Description
Overall dark brown/black colours. The male has a striking yellow eye and a dark coloured (greenish) head. The female is similar to the male, but without the yellow eye and has a white face patch during breeding season. A white wing bar can be seen in both sexes when in flight [2].
Feeding
They are a diving duck and may stay down for twenty to thirty seconds and go down three metres to look for aquatic plants, small fish, water snails, mussels and insects [3][4]. It is sometimes seen with the Australian Coot (Fulica atra); it is thought that the Scaup takes advantage of the food stirred up by the Coots as they fossick for shrimps.[4]
Distribution
Found throughout both North and South islands of New Zealand in deep freshwater lakes and ponds [2]. Unlike other members of this genus this scaup is not migratory, although it does move to open water from high country lakes if they become frozen in winter.[4]
Life cycle
They nest from October to March. They lay five to eight cream/white eggs in a nest close to water, often under banks or thick cover. The nest is usually lined with grass and down [2]. The eggs are incubated for four weeks by the female. The newly hatched duckling take to diving for food on their first outing.[4]
References
- ^ Moncrieff, Perrine (1961). New Zealand Birds and How to Identify Them. Whitcombe and Tombs Ltd. p. 113.
- ^ a b c Marshall, Janet; F.C. Kinsky, C.J.R. Robertson (1972). Common Birds in New Zealand. A.H. & A.W. Reed. p. 31. ISBN 0 589 00230 0.
- ^ Orbell, Margaret (2003). Birds of Aotearoa. Reed Publishing NZ Ltd. p. 129. ISBN 0 7900 0909 9.
- ^ a b c d Lockley, Ronald M. (1980). New Zealand Endangered Species. Cassell NZ. p. 82. ISBN 0908 572 220.
- BirdLife International (2004). Aythya novaeseelandiae. 2006. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. www.iucnredlist.org. Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
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