Ring-necked Duck
Against
steel-gray skies a squadron of birds screams across the outside
edge of the decoys, seemingly daring the hiding hunters to
attempt a shot. But the hunters wait, and soon their patience is
rewarded. A pair of handsome drake ring-necks dressed in their
formal winter finest are brought to hand; a true prize for both
the game strap and the skillet.
The ring-necked duck (Aythya collaris) is found across North
America with the exception of the Arctic region. Adults are
approximately seven to eight inches long and weigh about two
pounds, and females are typically smaller than males. Males are
mostly black with a white belly and rings of gray around the
base of the bill. The female has tan sides, a brown back and a
white belly, with a less pronounced bill ring. The female’s eyes
are also often a darker color than the male’s eyes.
"Ringbill" is the name hunters have given this diving duck of
forested ponds and bogs, because the two white rings on its bill
are much more visible than its brownish collar. A powerful
swimmer, the ring-necked duck can forage to depths of 40 feet in
search of plant and animal fare.
Ring-necked ducks are mainly vegetarian, typically about 80
percent of their diet consists of seeds, pondweeds and tubers.
The ducks do, however, supplement their diets with insect
larvae, mollusks, worms, and crustaceans. Their intake of
invertebrates (especially aquatic insect and snails) increases
after arrival on breeding grounds in Canada. Young ring-necks
eat mostly invertebrates, particularly during their first two to
three weeks after hatching.
In March, while on the way back from their wintering grounds in
the southern U.S., ring-necks begin pairing up with their mates
in preparation for courtship. The males are known to throw their
head back as it swims away in an effort to entice the female to
follow him. Ring-necked duck nests are built on floating islands
or in open marshes. The female selects the nest location and
builds the nest from surrounding vegetation. The female starts
laying her eggs from late April to early June. Clutches of eight
eggs are considered typical, but can range from six to 14 eggs.
The eggs are a milky white color. The female incubates her
clutch for a period of about 27 days.
Next time you are out and you spot a ring-necked duck, or even a
pair of them, take a minute to watch their behavior. Because
they have such a deep diving ability, they make for interesting
entertainment.