Species Name: Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris)

Length: 17 inches

Description: A medium-sized diving duck. Males have a crisp dark and light plumage that appears black and white at a distance. The head and breast shows a purple sheen in good light. The back is dark and set off from grayish sides by a distinct curving line. The leading edge of the gray flank is white and extends upward into the dark back; this is an excellent field mark to separate this species from closely related Aythya ducks. A dark brown ring at the base of the neck is hard to see in the field but readily apparent in the hand. The bill is dark gray with a black tip, separated by a prominent white ring. Males show another white line at the base of the bill. The head shape is peaked or squarish.

Females are rusty brown with the back somewhat darker than the flanks and breast. A white line is often seen behind the eye. The bill has the same white ring separating the black tip from the dark gray as the male. The feathers at the base of the bill may be lighter than the rest of the head, but not as distinct as on either scaup species. Closely resembles the Tufted Duck (Aythya fuliga) of Europe.

Range: Breeds across most of Canada, northern portions of New England, the Great Lakes area, and Washington and Oregon. Winters in lower half of the Lower 48 States and along both coasts.

Behavior: Usually seen in flocks of both sexes, often in the company of other Aythya ducks (Greater Scaup, Lesser Scaup, Canvasback, Redhead). Occurs on any size pond, and often winters in local parks. Dives to feed.

Related or Similar Species: Ring-necked Ducks are in the Aythya family which includes Greater Scaup, Lesser Scaup, Canvasback, and Redhead in North America, and the Tufted Duck and Pochard in Europe.

Identification: Bill is distinctive and separates both male and female from similar scaups when seen well. At a distance look for the wedge of white on the flanks of males. Large rafts of Ring-necked Ducks should be examined for rare Tufted Ducks in the US, which are found on both coasts and have even occurred inland in Arizona. In Europe, rare Ring-billed Ducks may occur with flocks of Tufted Ducks, Scaup, or Pochards.

Advice on Finding and Photographing: Make a habit of checking any local ponds in parks for wintering ducks. Wild Ring-necked Ducks usually arrive in October or November. At first they will keep to themselves, and stay in the center of the pond as far from shore as possible. As the winter progresses they often get used to people and even join flocks of feral mallards for handouts from people. Sit along the shore of a pond, with a clear view of the open water and with the direction of light noted. Backlighting should be avoided. Keep low to the ground to minimize your apparent size and to keep the camera viewpoint near the water. Pay attention to trees, rushes, and structures around the pond as their reflections will determine the colors and patterns of the water in any photographs. As the ducks move and disrupt the surface a variety of pleasing color forms will be created. Pan with the moving duck and trip the shutter when it enters an area of color. Exposure may be troublesome for some camera meters, especially with contrasty males in direct sunlight. It may not be possible to properly expose both the dark head and white areas in bright light. Be careful of lighting around water as it can appear darker than normal, or may throw bright reflections - either condition can fool some metering systems.

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Richard Ditch been looking at birds and taking their photographs since the early 1970's, when he caught the "birding bug" from a friend at work. He was very active as a birder when he lived in New Jersey (1970-1994), maintaining lists of all the birds he saw each year in the state and elsewhere. Rich was a volunteer and field trip leader at the Owl Haven Nature Center (part of the New Jersey Audubon Society) and was a member of the Board of Directors for many years, along with being a frequent contributor to their quarterly magazine and to Records of New Jersey Birds. After moving to Phoenix, AZ in 1994 as a result of a job change, he found the birds to be a lot different and went through a rapid period of learning new species and new forms of species East. Richard is also a very active Member of our PhotoMigrations community and is a regular contributor to our forums. Please feel free to email him and be sure to visit his website located at: Birds in Nature - Images of Wild Birds.