New Zealand Scaup

Aythya novaeseelandiae - Fuligule de Nouvelle-Zélande

Systematics

Order
:
Anseriformes
Family
:
Anatidés
Genus
:
Aythya
Species
:
novaeseelandiae

Descriptor

Gmelin, JF, 1789

Biometrics

Size
: 46 cm
Wingspan
: -
Weight
: 550 à 746 g

Geographic range

Distribution

Identification

This is a small, entirely dark scaup. Male and female can easily be distinguished in the wild. The male's back, neck and head are black while the flanks are dark brown, the golden yellow eye is clearly visible and the bluish beak is ended by a black nail. The same beak can be found on the female, but she differs from the male in the absence of black (the full body is dark brown), the brown eye and the presence of white vertical bars at the base of the beak (present in half of the females). Juveniles look like the females but lack the white marks at the base of the beak.
In flight, the underside is very light and the upper wing very contrasting; the dark coverts oppose the white remiges (only their tips are dark, creating a dark trailing edge). Note that, contrary to what is seen in the Australian scaup, Aythya australis (the only species that can be confused in New Zealand), the large white wing bar does not reach the body.

Subspecific information monotypic species

Foreign names

Fuligule de Nouvelle-Zélande,
Porrón maorí,
zarro-maori,
Maoriente,
maori cigányréce,
Nieuw-Zeelandse Topper,
Moretta di Nuova Zelanda,
nyazeelanddykand,
Maoridykkand,
chochlačka tmavá,
polák novozélandský,
Newzealandsk Troldand,
uudenseelanninsotka,
morell de Nova Zelanda,
ogorzałka nowozelandzka,
Новозеландская чернеть,
ニュージーランドスズガモ,
新西兰潜鸭,
紐西蘭潛鴨,

Voice song and cries

play
pause

These birds are practically mute outside of the mating season. The male emits a whistle on three or four notes while the female has a high-pitched grunt.

Habitat

As most of its kin, the New Zealand Scaup frequents both natural and artificial deep fresh waters. It has a marked preference for the water bodies of hilly regions (reaching 1000 meters high), but visits some lagoons mostly during winter.

Behaviour character trait

The New Zealand Scaup spends most of its time on the water, though it does come to rest on shore at times. The post-breeding gatherings are never very large. Movements are not important and most birds are sedentary.

Flight

Not very shy, it flies as if with reluctance, never too high, usually leaving its legs to hit the water.

Dietfeeding habits

As with most scaups, the New Zealand Scaup's food is mainly acquired by diving, but insects can be caught from the surface of the water. The diet consists of invertebrates (mollusks and insects) and plant materials taken from underwater.

Reproduction nesting

Couples of New Zealand Scaup form at the start of the Australian spring (late September - early October). Sometimes loose colonies are noted. The nest is well-hidden in dense vegetation, close to water. It is usually built with reeds leaves and strands of grass. The average number of eggs laid is 4 to 8 (with a known record of 15); the female incubates these alone for about a month. Young birds are not able to fly until two or two and a half months old.

Geographic range

It is an endemic species of New Zealand, present in the north and east of the North Island and in the western half (the most mountainous) of the South Island.

Threats - protection

IUCN conservation status

Extinct

Threatened

Least
concern

Extinc
in the Wild

Near
threatened

Not
evaluated

EX EW CR EN VU NT LC NE

Even though its numbers were greatly reduced due to hunting in the first decades of the 20th century (which led to its disappearance in almost all plain areas), the species is not considered threatened. It has been protected since 1934 and has benefited from the creation of many dam lakes, especially in the South Island. Effective reintroduction operations have been carried out in the North Island. However, at the end of the 20th century, the population was between 5,000 and 10,000 individuals, which is still low.