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Help develop a Bird ID tool!

Ring-necked Duck

Aythya collaris ORDER: ANSERIFORMES FAMILY: ANATIDAE

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

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The most common diving duck to be found on small ponds in migration, the Ring-necked Duck is more easily recognized by the bold white ring around its bill than the subtle purplish one around its neck.

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Appearance

Ducks
Ducks
Typical Voice

Adult Description

  • Medium-sized diving duck.
  • Bump or peak on back of head.
  • Bill bluish with white ring near black tip.
  • Male with black head, chest, back, and rear end, gray sides, and a white stripe up the shoulder.

Juvenile Description

Similar to female.

Range Map Help

Ring-necked Duck Range Map
View dynamic map of eBird sightings

Field MarksHelp

  • Male
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    Ring-necked Duck

    Male
    • Peaked, glossy-black head with purplish sheen
    • Boldly patterned bill
    • Black chest and back
    • Silvery gray sides
    • © DistantFocus, Cary, North Carolina, January 2011
  • Female
    Zoom In

    Ring-necked Duck

    Female
    • Peaked crown
    • Mostly tan and gray throughout, dark on back
    • Pale white around and behind eye
    • Gray bill with white and black markings at tip
    • © smithbtr, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, February 2011
  • Female and male
    Zoom In

    Ring-necked Duck

    Female and male
    • Female with dark crown contrasting with paler face
    • Female with white ring around eye
    • Male with glossy black head and breast, and boldly patterned bill
    • © Lois Manowitz, Tucson, Arizona, January 2010
  • Male
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    Ring-necked Duck

    Male
    • Peaked head shape
    • Glossy black head, neck and chest
    • Bright white underparts
    • Bold pattern on bill
    • © DistantFocus, Cary, North Carolina, January 2011
  • Female
    Zoom In

    Ring-necked Duck

    Female
    • Dark, peaked crown
    • Gray and brown overall
    • Gray bill with white and black markings at tip
    • Buffy white around eye and at base of bill
    • © Bill Thompson, Anchorage, Alaska, September 2010
  • Female and males
    Zoom In

    Ring-necked Duck

    Female and males
    • Two-toned wings
    • Males with black heads and backs and patterned bills
    • Female mostly brown with pale circle around eye
    • © Laura Erickson, Ithaca, New York, February 2009
  • Male
    Zoom In

    Ring-necked Duck

    Male
    • Peaked crown
    • Glossy black head with slight purple sheen
    • Boldly patterned bill
    • Black breast with silver/gray sides
    • © Dawn Vornholt, Tucson, Alaska, March 2010
  • Male
    Zoom In

    Ring-necked Duck

    Male
    • Strongly peaked crown
    • Glossy black head and breast
    • Bold black and white pattern on bill
    • Black back with silver-gray flanks
    • © Ganesh Jayaraman, San Francisco, California, March 2009
  • Female
    Zoom In

    Ring-necked Duck

    Female
    • Peaked dark crown contrasts with paler brown face
    • Mostly tan overall, darker on back
    • White circle around eye and white patch at base of bill
    • Gray bill with black and white markings at tip
    • © Ernest Gaudreau, San Franscisco, California, January 2011

Similar Species

  • Male
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    Lesser Scaup

    Male
    • Along with Greater Scaup, similar to male Ring-necked Duck
    • Back barred silver and gray instead of solid black
    • Solid, blue-gray bill with no pattern
    • © Carol Foil, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, January 2008
  • Male
    Zoom In

    Greater Scaup

    Male
    • Along with Lesser Scaup, similar to male Ring-necked Duck
    • Rounded head with no peak
    • Back barred silver and gray instead of solid black
    • No obvious pattern on bill
    • © Ganesh Jayaraman, Palo Alto, California, December 2009
  • Female
    Zoom In

    Redhead

    Female
    • Similar to adult female Ring-necked Duck
    • Head rounded with no noticeable peak
    • Bill mostly blue-gray with black tip
    • Pale, sandy brown back
    • © Greg Page, Houston, Texas, February 2010
  • Female
    Zoom In

    Lesser Scaup

    Female
    • Head more rounded than Ring-necked Duck
    • Grayish on sides and back
    • Even brown head
    • © Stan Smith/CLO

Similar Species

  • Scaup have light backs and lack the ring around the bill. Female scaup have white patches at the base of their bills and lack an eyering.
  • Female Redhead has rounded head and paler back.