Aythya collaris

Description

The female ring-necked duck is brown with a white eyering. The top of her head and her back are darker than the rest of her body and she has gray cheeks and a gray shoulder patch. The male ring-necked duck has a black back and head with gray sides and a white shoulder patch. Both sexes have a white ring around their bills and a slightly pointed head.

Voice

The male ring-necked duck's call is a low whistle and the female ring-necked duck has a very rough call.

Breeding

October to June

Habitat

These diving ducks like sheltered ponds and marshes.

Diet

Ring-necked ducks eat seeds and plants.

Range

These birds spend their summers in Canada and the northernmost United States (including VT and NH) and their winters in most of the rest of the country.

Other Useful Information

Ring-necked ducks are social and they like to stay in small flocks.

Similar Species

The lesser and greater scaups look a lot like the ring-necked duck; however, there are a few ways to tell these species apart. The male scaup has a gray back and does not have a ring on his bill. The female scaup has a very noticeable white patch on her face and she does not have a white eyering.