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Ring-necked Duck

Aythya collaris

Least Concern (IUCN Red List)Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl
Ring-necked Duck, photographed by Jack Du

Photo: Jack Du · Pexels · Pexels License (licence)

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About the Ring-necked Duck

A relatively small diving duck with a tall peaked crown. Males are handsome with glossy black head and back, clean gray sides, and a brighter white spur on the side. Females are grayish-brown, often with a paler patch at the base of the bill and a white eyering. Both sexes have a white band near the tip of gray bill. Also note gray, not white, wingstripe in flight. Usually favors small bodies of water, such as beaver ponds and cattail marshes, but also occurs on larger lakes, rivers, and bays. Can be found in mixed flocks with other diving ducks, although usually in smaller numbers than scaup. Compare with both species of scaup and Redhead (especially females).

Species account: eBird.org, fetched 2025-12-26 · How these pages are made

Where it has been recorded

Recorded in 77 of the 253 countries we have eBird lists for. Each opens that country's checklist.

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