Where do ringneck ducks live?

What is a ring-necked duck?

The Ring-necked duck is a small diving duck from North America. Males are a little bit bigger than females. They have two white rings surrounding their gray bill, a shiny black angular head, black back, white line on the wings, a white breast and yellow eyes.

Where do ring necked ducks live in the US?

Ring-necked Ducks breed in freshwater marshes and bogs across the boreal forest of northern North America. Although they’re diving ducks, they’re frequently seen in quite shallow waters (four feet deep or less), where patches of open water are fringed with aquatic or emergent vegetation such as sedges, lilies, and shrubs.

Are ring-necked ducks on the 2014 state of the Birds Watch List?

These ducks are not on the 2014 State of the Birds Watch List. Ring-necked Ducks can be found throughout the year in the U.S., with part of their population breeding in Canada, and part wintering in Mexico and other areas of Central America, including the Caribbean.

Do ring necked ducks stay with their young?

The female may remain with her young until they are able to fly which occurs 49-55 days after hatching. Ring-necked ducks become reproductively mature and are ready to breed at one year of age. Ring-necked ducks are not currently threatened.

What is the scientific name of the ring-necked duck?

The scientific name of the Ring-necked duck is derived from Greek ‘aithuia’ an unidentified seabird mentioned by authors including Hesychius and Aristotle, and Latin ‘collaris’, ‘of the neck’ from collum, ‘neck’. The Ring-necked duck was first described in 1809 by Edward Donovan. He was an Anglo Irish writer and amateur zoologist.

Where can I find a ring necked duck?

You can find Ring-necked Ducks in fairly small, shallow wetlands. They breed mainly across far northern North America, so check the range map and look for them during migration and in winter, when they can form large flocks. Don’t look for a ring around the neck—it’s really hard to see.

What does a ring-necked duck look like?

The male Ring-necked Duck is a sharply marked bird of gleaming black, gray, and white. Females are rich brown with a delicate face pattern. At distance, look for this species’ distinctive, peaked head to help you identify it. Even though this species dives for its food, you can find it in shallow wetlands such as beaver swamps, ponds, and bays.

Where do ring necked ducks make their nests?

Ring-necked Ducks nest on dry hummocks close to water or on mats of floating vegetation in the water. The nest is a shallow bowl of vegetation and down. Most of the nest construction (by the female alone) is complete when incubation begins.

Why is the ring necked duck so rare?

In the Puget Trough, the Ring-necked Duck is a rare breeder. Its preference for shallow water in breeding areas may account for its relative scarcity in western Washington where many of the ponds, lakes, and reservoirs are quite deep.

How many ring necked ducks are taken each year?

About 450,000 Ring-necked Ducks are taken each year by hunters, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which carefully manages duck populations to avoid overhunting. Back to top Lutmerding, J. A. and A. S. Love. (2020).

How do ring necked ducks attack other birds?

When warning away another bird, Ring-necked Ducks lower their bill to meet their chest or push against each other, breast to breast, while swimming. This can intensify to bites and blows with the wings, particularly during the breeding season.

Where do ring necked ducks come from?

These types of ducks are close relatives of tufted duck. Ring-necked duck has grey bill with a white band and yellow eyes. They breed in wooded lakes in the Northern United States and Canada, and are mostly found in ponds and rivers.

How do ring necked ducks feed their young?

Independent, with a fine coat of down; ducklings leave nest within 2 days of hatching. Ring-necked Ducks feed by diving underwater, rather than by tipping up as “dabbling” ducks do. When diving, they leap forward in an arc to plunge underwater, and they swim using only their feet for propulsion.

When do ring necked ducks migrate?

Spring migration lasts from early February through March. Numbers of Ring-necked Ducks across North America appear stable, but they are difficult to survey and estimates are not precise. Historically, Ring-necked Ducks were dispersed in small flocks across the winter range in available habitat.

Do ring necked ducks fly in flocks?

They tend to remain in pairs during the breeding season but group into flocks of several to several thousand during migration and winter. Like many other ducks, the Ring-necked Duck uses many kinds of displays to ward off rivals and to seek mates; almost any group of ducks offers an opportunity to watch these displays at work.

Where do ring necked ducks live in the wild?

Ring-necked Ducks breed in freshwater marshes, bogs, and other shallow, often acidic wetlands. Which Backyard Birds Eat Which Plants? A Quick Guide to Native Foods

How old is the oldest ring necked duck?

The oldest known Ring-necked Duck was a male, and at least 20 years, 5 months old. He was banded in 1964 in Louisiana and was shot in 1983, in Minnesota. Looking for ID Help? Get Instant ID help for 650+ North American birds.

What is the scientific name of the ring neck duck?

The ring-necked duck ( Aythya collaris) is a diving duck from North America commonly found in freshwater ponds and lakes. The scientific name is derived from Greek aithuia, an unidentified seabird mentioned by authors including Hesychius and Aristotle, and Latin collaris, “of the neck” from collum, “neck”.

What does a ring necked duck look like?

Look instead for the bird’s peaked head shape, white ring around the bill, and white patch just in front of the gray flanks. This bird’s common name (and its scientific name ” collaris ,” too) refer to the Ring-necked Duck’s hard-to-see chestnut collar on its black neck.

What do ring-necked ducks eat?

Adult males have a prominent white ring on the bill. Ring-necked Ducks are often in small flocks and pairs, diving to feed on mollusks, invertebrates, and submerged aquatic vegetation. Sometimes they flock with scaup; other times you may see them with dabbling ducks. This opens in a new window.