Ring-necked Duck

Aythya collaris

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Identification

Field notes

38-46 cm (15-18") Common. Wooded lakes, bays, ponds, rivers. Small diving duck with a distinctly ringed grayish bill. Questionably named for hard to see brownish "ring" on male's neck; Ringed-bill would make more sense.

Male: purplish-black head shows a peak in profile; thin white ring at base of bill and much wider white ring near tip; black back; white crescent separates black breast from gray sides.

Female: small, dark, gray-brown diving duck with a distinctly ringed black-tipped grayish bill. Head shows a dark-crowned peak in profile; dark eye with white eye ring; often shows a faint white line behind eye; light area on face at base of bill; white ring near tip of bill.

In flight: white belly; gray speculum.

Song: loud whistles, soft purring.

Details in the field

Photo gallery

4 photos

Credit: Larry Bond

Credit: Len Blumin

Credit: Andrew Reding

Watch and learn

Videos

2 videos

Ring-necked Ducks

Credit: rhill

Ring-necked Duck (Anatidae: Aythya collaris) Male and Female

Credit: Carl Barrentine

Where it lives

Distribution maps

Source legend · original intervals

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Unshaded in source · does not imply absence

Generic and winter maps may use different intervals.

Bird Advisor Identification rules 2 variants 2 rules

These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.

Ring-necked Duck (Female)

1 rule

Rule 1 12 criteria confidence 6

What colour was the SIDE ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the BILL ?: Blue · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Flattened · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Short · Medium · Long · Unknown
What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?: Light area between the bill and the eye · Light area over, below, behind or around the eye · NONE of the above or a PLAIN unmarked FACE · Unknown
What colour were the EYES ?: Red, orange or rusty · Brown or blackish brown · Black or dark gray · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Pigeon-sized · Crow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Duck or Goose-like

result:747-ring-necked-duck-female:1:1 Source: 747 Ring-necked Duck (Female), row 1

Ring-necked Duck (Male)

1 rule

Rule 1 11 criteria confidence 6

What colour was the SIDE ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BILL ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Blue · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Flattened · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Short · Medium · Long · Unknown
What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?: Light area between the bill and the eye · NONE of the above or a PLAIN unmarked FACE · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Pigeon-sized · Crow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Duck or Goose-like

result:746-ring-necked-duck-male:1:1 Source: 746 Ring-necked Duck (Male), row 1