New Zealand scaup (Aythya novaeseelandiae)

The only true diving duck .....

The scaup is New Zealand's only true diving duck, staying under water for up to twenty seconds.

Its' unproportionally huge webbed feet that are further back on its body than other ducks, make it a very adept underwater swimmer down to a depth of three metres, but hinder its movement on land.

Chicks just one day old have been seen diving to the same depth as their parents.

Some New Zealand ducks do not avoid danger by flying away. Scaup tend to dive and swim beneath the water to avoid it.