Ring-necked Duck

The Ring-necked Duck is a medium-sized diving duck named for a thin chestnut collar around the neck of the breeding drake — a feature so subtle it is rarely visible in the field, making the species' common name somewhat misleading. Far more useful for identification is the bold white ring encircling the bill near the tip, along with a distinct peaked or angular crown shape.

The breeding drake shows a glossy black head, back, and breast, contrasting with pale gray flanks marked by a vertical white spur in front of the wing. Females are grayish-brown with a paler face and the same distinctive peaked head shape and ringed bill pattern (though less bold than the male's).

Key Field Marks

• Peaked or angular crown shape, giving the head a triangular profile
• Bold white ring near the tip of the bill, plus a thinner white ring at the bill base
• Breeding drake: glossy black head, back, and breast; pale gray flanks with a white vertical spur near the wing
• Female: grayish-brown with a pale face, white eye-ring, and peaked head

Similar Species

Scaup species have a rounder head shape and lack the bold white bill ring; the Ring-necked Duck's peaked crown and prominent bill ring are the most reliable distinguishing features. The vertical white spur on the drake's flank in front of the folded wing is also distinctive.

Ring-necked Ducks breed across the boreal forest and parkland regions of Canada and the northern United States, favoring shallow, acidic, vegetated ponds, bogs, and small lakes, often surrounded by woodland — more so than most other diving ducks, which tend to favor larger open water. They winter across the southern and coastal United States, Mexico, and Central America, on lakes, ponds, and marshes.

The species is a fairly common and widespread migrant and winter resident, often found on smaller water bodies than other diving ducks such as scaup.

Ring-necked Ducks dive to feed on aquatic vegetation, seeds, and invertebrates, typically in shallower water than many other diving ducks, and can also dabble at the surface on occasion. They are agile divers and swimmers, often seen in small to moderate-sized flocks.

The voice is generally quiet; males give soft grunting or whistled notes during courtship, while females give a soft, low growl-like call. Nests are built on the ground in dense marsh vegetation close to water, sometimes on floating mats of vegetation, with females incubating 8-10 eggs alone.