Ring-Necked Duck
Aythya collaris
Habitat
Aquatic
Diet
PlantSeed
Active Time
Diurnal
Size
705 g
About This Species
This diving duck shows a peaked head shape and a pale ring near the tip of its bill, and it favours quiet, vegetated ponds and marshes over open water. Watch for it diving repeatedly for aquatic plants and invertebrates, often in mixed flocks with other diving ducks during migration. Winter through early spring on freshwater wetlands across much of North America offers the most consistent sightings.
Ethical Viewing Guidelines
- Viewing from a shoreline, blind, or boat at a distance that does not force birds to dive repeatedly or swim away is the standard for waterfowl.
- Migratory waterfowl are protected under federal law in the US and Canada outside of regulated hunting seasons, so causing unnecessary flushing or disturbance, especially in wintering flocks, should be avoided.
- Keeping noise low and staying on established trails around wetland edges limits stress on resting birds.
LCAvesAnseriformesAnatidae
Seasonal Activity
3,309,421 sightings · 2000–2026
Citizen science records via GBIF
All monthsThis month
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Aves
- Order
- Anseriformes
- Family
- Anatidae
Traits
- Diet
- PlantSeed
- Foraging
- Aquatic
- Activity
- Diurnal
- Body mass
- 705 g
Photo
Wikimedia Commons / Wikimedia Commons
CC-BY-SA-4.0
Occurrence data from GBIF.