Ring-necked Duck
Ring-necked Duck
Male
- Peaked, glossy-black head with purplish sheen
- Boldly patterned bill
- Black chest and back
- Silvery gray sides
- © DistantFocus, NC, Cary, January 2011
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, LA, Baton Rouge, February 2011
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, AZ, Tucson, January 2010
Ring-necked Duck
Male
- Peaked head shape
- Glossy black head, neck and chest
- Bright white underparts
- Bold pattern on bill
- © DistantFocus, NC, Cary, January 2011
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, AK, Anchorage, September 2010
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, NY, Ithaca, February 2009
Ring-necked Duck
Male
- Peaked crown
- Glossy black head with slight purple sheen
- Boldly patterned bill
- Black breast with silver/gray sides
- © Dawn Vornholt, AK, Tucson, March 2010
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, CA, San Francisco, March 2009
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, CA, San Franscisco, January 2011
Similar Species
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, LA, January 2008
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, CA, December 2009
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, TX, February 2010
Female
- Head more rounded than Ring-necked Duck
- Grayish on sides and back
- Even brown head
- © Stan Smith/CLO