Ring-Necked Duck Identification (Facts, Diet and Habitat)

The ring-necked duck (Aythya collaris) is a medium-sized diving duck that inhabits freshwater wetlands across North America. It is named for the chestnut-colored ring around its neck, which is often hard to see in the field. The male ring-necked duck has a striking plumage of black, gray, and white, while the female ring-necked duck is mostly brown with a pale face. It can be confused with other similar species, such as the scaup, the shoveler, and the ruddy duck, but it has some distinctive features that can help you identify it.

Ring-Necked Duck Female Size and Shape

The ring-necked duck is about 17 inches (43 cm) long, with a wingspan of 25 inches (64 cm) and a weight of 1.5 pounds (680 g). It has a compact body, a long tail, and a relatively large head. The head is peaked at the rear, giving it a triangular shape when viewed from the side. The bill is long and narrow, with a black tip and a white band near the end. The legs are set far back on the body, which makes this duck clumsy on land but agile in the water.

Color Pattern

The male ring-necked duck has a glossy black head, neck, breast, and back, contrasting with a light gray belly and flanks. The gray flanks have fine black vermiculations (wavy lines) that give them a scaly appearance. The black tail has a white terminal band. The wings are mostly gray, with a white stripe along the front edge and a greenish-purple speculum (wing patch) with a white border. The eye is bright yellow, and the bill is bluish-gray with a white band and a black tip. The neck ring is chestnut-brown, but it is often hidden by the black feathers or the angle of the light.

The female ring-necked duck is mostly brown, with a paler brown head and neck. The head has a dark brown cap, a white eye ring, and a white spot at the base of the bill. The bill is gray with a white band and a black tip. The eye is brown. The breast and flanks are brown with darker spots, and the belly is white. The back and tail are dark brown. The wings are similar to the male’s, but duller in color.

Behavior and Habitat

The ring-necked duck is a diving duck, meaning it submerges its entire body to feed on aquatic plants, seeds, mollusks, and insects. It can dive up to 10 feet (3 m) deep and stay underwater for up to 25 seconds. It often feeds in flocks, sometimes mixed with other diving ducks. It is less vocal than other ducks, but it may make low whistles, grunts, and squeaks. It is also less social than other ducks, and tends to be wary and secretive.

The ring-necked duck breeds in boreal forests and prairies of Canada and the northern United States. It prefers shallow freshwater lakes, ponds, and marshes with dense vegetation and open water. It nests in a depression on the ground, lined with grass and down, and hidden by vegetation. It lays 6 to 14 eggs, which are incubated by the female for about 25 days. The male leaves the female after she starts incubating, and joins other males in molting flocks. The ducklings are able to swim and feed themselves soon after hatching, but they stay with the female until they fledge in about 50 days.

The ring-necked duck migrates southward in the fall and northward in the spring, following the availability of food and water. It winters in southern and coastal regions of the United States, Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. It may also be winter in some parts of Europe and Asia, where it is considered a rare vagrant. It uses a variety of wetlands during migration and wintering, such as rivers, reservoirs, estuaries, and bays. It is often seen in small groups or large flocks, sometimes with other species of ducks.

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How to Identify the Ring-necked Duck?

The ring-necked duck can be identified by its size, shape, color pattern, behavior, and habitat. Here are some tips to help you distinguish it from other similar species:

• Look for the peaked head, the long and narrow bill, and the white band on the bill. These features are unique to the ring-necked among the diving ducks.
• Compare the size and shape of the ring-necked duck with other ducks. It is smaller and more compact than the scaup, the shoveler, and the ruddy duck. It has a longer tail and a more triangular head than the scaup. It has a narrower bill and a more pointed head than the shoveler. It has a longer bill and a flatter head than the ruddy duck.
• Compare the color pattern of the ring-necked duck with other ducks. The male ring-necked duck has a black and gray plumage, while the male scaup has a black and white plumage. The male duck has a white stripe on the wing, while the male scaup has a white wing patch. The female duck has a white spot at the base of the bill, while the female scaup has a white patch at the base of the bill. The female has a white eye ring, while the female scaup has a white spot behind the eye.
• The ring-necked duck has a similar color pattern to the shoveler, but it has a different bill shape and head shape. The ring-necked duck has a long and narrow bill, while the shoveler has a large and spatulate bill. It has a peaked head, while the shoveler has a rounded head.
• It has a similar color pattern to the ruddy duck, but it has a different bill shape and head shape. This duck has a long and narrow bill, while the ruddy duck has a short and thick bill. It has a peaked head, while the ruddy duck has a flat head. The ruddy duck also has a stiff tail that it often holds upright, unlike the ring-necked duck.

People Also Ask?

Q1: What is another name for Ring-necked Duck?

Another name for the Ring-necked Duck is the “Ringbill.”

Q2: What is the physical description of a Ring-necked Duck?

It is a medium-sized duck with striking markings. Males have a glossy black head, a white ring around their neck, and a distinctive white triangular patch on their side. Females have a more subdued appearance with a brownish-gray body.

Q3: Is a ringneck a sea duck?

No, the Ring-necked is not considered a sea duck. It is primarily found in freshwater habitats such as lakes, ponds, and marshes.

Q4: What is the difference between Ring-necked Duck and a tufted duck?

While both are diving ducks, the Ring-necked Duck and Tufted Duck differ in appearance. It has a distinctive white ring around its neck and a white triangular patch on its side. In contrast, the Tufted Duck is characterized by a tuft of feathers on the back of its head and lacks the prominent neck ring seen in the Ring-necked Duck.