ringnecked duck (Aythya collaris)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CONFIRMATION STATUS: Confirmed.

 

IDENTIFICATION

• Length: 12 inches Wingspan: 28 inches

• Small, compact diving duck

• Peaked crown

• Dark wing with grayish flight feathers

• Immature female similar to adult female, immature male is similar to      female in autumn, but acquires alternate plumage during winter

Adult male alternate:

• Alternate plumage worn from fall through early summer

• Blue bill with white ring around base, white subterminal ring, and              black tip

• Yellow eye

• Purple head and neck

• Chestnut ring around neck is not easily visible

• Black breast

• Gray flanks with vertical white finger at forward portion

• Dark back, tail, upper- and undertail coverts

• Whitish belly

Adult male basic:

• Similar to adult female

Adult female:

• Dark brown crown and pale gray-brown face, becoming whitish on             lores

• Dark blue-gray bill with white ring before black tip

• Brown eye with narrow white eye ring

• Dark brown body plumage with very dark back

Similar species:

Adult males can be distinguished from scaup by different bill pattern,

black back and grayish flanks. Female can be distinguished from female

scaup by black tip on bill, and lack of distinct white patch on face. Fe-

male-plumage birds are distinguished from female-plumage redheads

by colder brown plumage, contrasting gray-brown face, and peaked

crown.

 

LIFE HISTORY

Migration Status:N/A
Breeding Habitat:Wetland-open water
Nest Location:N/A
Nest Type:N/A
Clutch Size:6-14
Length of Incubation: 26-27(25-29) days
Days to Fledge:49-56
Number of Broods:1
Diet: Primarily plant matter; lesser quantities of aquatic invertebrates and
fish

 

SKY MEADOWS DISTRIBUTION/SEASONAL OCCURRENCE

 

Relative abundance and seasonal occurrence are indicated in red below.

 

Relative abundance
     C - Common: Likely to be present in good numbers in appropriate habitat and season.
     U - Uncommon: May be present in appropriate habitat and season, often in low
            numbers.
     O - Occassional: Found in appropriate habitat perhaps only a few times per season,
            sometimes low numbers.
     R - Rare: May not be recorded every year.
     Acc - Accidental: Recorded once or twice, may not be expected again for a long time.

 

Seasonal Occurrence
      Sp - Spring: March, April, May R
      Su - Summer: June, July, August Acc
      Fall: September, October, November R

      Winter: December, January, February

 

 

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