Aythya novaeseelandiae / New Zealand Scaup
Last Modified: 8-1-2021 19:24
© Christopher Cookson License this image
New Zealand Scaup / Pāpango (Aythya novaeseelandiae) are a small black and brown duck endemic to New Zealand, found throughout the country. The birds have a distinctive yellow ring around their eye, and spend a considerable amount of time diving underwater. Scaup are common on still, or slow moving freshwater bodies and brackish or saltwater wetlands. In Marlborough, some of the locations scaup can be observed include the Wairau Lagoons, Taylor Dam, Grovetown Lagoon, and Lake Elterwater. Although considered non-migratory, scaup numbers can vary considerably at any given location, and may not always be present, as they are good flyers and will readily move around between nearby bodies of water.
This example was observed at Grovetown Lagoon.
Image Date: 28/12/2020
Photographer: Christopher Cookson
Location: Latitude: -41.471027 Longitude: 173.974213