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Return to All About Diving Ducks   

Diving Ducks Family

Ringnecked Duck
Aythya collaris


male
female
Similar Waterfowl:
Scaups, females resemble female Redheads
Description:

Although male ring-necked ducks resemble their counterparts in greater and lesser scaups, their peaked, angular head profile, distinctive white bill markings, and uniformly dark upper wings distinguish them. Female ring-necked ducks most closely resemble female redheads, but are distinguished by their smaller size, peaked, angular head profile, and pale region around the face. Male ring-necked ducks have an iridescent black head, neck, breast and upperparts. The belly and flanks are whitish to grayish with a distinctive triangular white wedge extending upward in the area in front of the folded wing. The bill is slate with a white border around the base and nares and a pale white band behind the black tip. Their name is derived from a faint brownish ring around the base of the neck, which is only visible close-up. The legs and feet are gray-blue and the iris is yellow. Female ring-necked ducks have a brown head with a black crown, light brown cheeks and chin, and a white eye-ring. A narrow white line extends from the eye to the back of the head. The bill is slate with a faint white band near the tip. The neck, back, sides, and flanks are brown and the belly is white. The legs and feet are gray-blue and the iris is brown.
Typical Size:

The male and female average 17 inches in length and weigh 1 3/4 pounds. They have a wingspan of 27 inches.
Habitat:

They prefer sedge-meadow marshes, swamps, and bogs surrounded by woody vegetation, as well as ponds and shallow lakes.
Breeding:
 Ring-necked ducks breed from southeastern and east-central Alaska, central British Columbia eastward through northern Saskatchewan to Newfoundland, south to northeastern California, southeastern Arizona, southern Colorado, Iowa, Illinois, northern New York, and Massachusetts. Female ring-necked ducks nest in flooded or floating emergent vegetation and lay an average of 8 to 10 eggs.
Diet:

Ring-necked ducks dive in shallow water to feed on tubers, seeds, and leaves of moist-soil and aquatic plants. They also eat aquatic insects, snails, and clams.
Migration and Wintering:
 The majority of ring-necked ducks migrate through the Central and Mississippi Flyways to inland wintering grounds along the Gulf of Mexico and the southern Atlantic coast of the USA. In winter, ring-necked ducks use a variety of habitats, such as fresh and brackish marshes, shallow lakes, estuarine bays, and coastal lagoons. Ring-necked ducks are winter visitors to Central America and the northern Caribbean.
Flyway Patterns:

The ringnecked duck is most commonly found in the Central and Mississippi flyways.
Flight Formation:

Small flocks in irregular loose formation. Strong direct flight at speeds of 50 MPH.
Voice:
 The male has a rare PURRR and the females are usually silent.

 

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