New Zealand scaup New Zealand scaup 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 Māori commonly known as papango, also matapouri, titiporangi, raipo. Overall dark brown/black colors. The male has a striking yellow eye and a dark colored (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. The scaup is a diving duck which may submerge
Lesser scaup be recognizable by the purple instead of green sheen of the head and a darker back. But this is unreliable because it varies according to light conditions, and these birds are often too far away from the observer to make out any sheen at all. The best trait—if the primary remiges are not visible—is the shape of the head: in the greater scaup drake, the forehead is usually quite massive, whereas the nape presents a smooth shallow curve and may appear almost straightly sloping. The lesser scaup drake presents the opposite shape, with a less bulging forehead and a nape