Adult: This abundant winter visitor to Florida is a puzzle to the birder in the field. The birder looks for the neck ring for which the critter is named. Short of catching the bird and peering closely at it, you probably won’t see the neck ring. Chances are you will ID the ducks by the bold white band on the black-tipped grayish-blue bills or by the white crescent in front of the male’s wing. The male Ring-necked Duck has a an easy-to-spot black head with a crown and a black back. His underparts are gray. The brown hen has a dark crown and mottled face with an eye stripe, and she sports an eye ring. Look carefully at your duck; don’t confuse it with a Lesser Scaup. The ring-necks may tip when feeding, and they leap into the sky like dabblers. I really like this duck because he obviously has not read the field guides!

Immature: Similar.

Habitat: Saltwater and Saltwater Marshes. Freshwater and Freshwater Marshes. Agricultural and Urban Environments.

Winter resident. Only rarely breeds in Florida.

Text by Mary Jean Rogers, West Volusia Audubon.