Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris) Co.Dublin 19-04-2022
Grange Castle Business Park
Clondalkin Co.Dublin
19-04-2022
spanwidth min.: 62 cm
spanwidth max.: 63 cm
size min.: 37 cm
size max.: 46 cm
Breeding
incubation min.: 25 days
incubation max.: 29 days
fledging min.: 49 days
fledging max.: 56 days
broods 1
eggs min.: 6
eggs max.: 14
Aythya collaris
Lacha mhuinceach
Status: A rare winter visitor to wetlands from October to March, almost always associating with flocks of Tufted Duck.
Conservation Concern: Green-listed in Ireland. The European population is regarded as Secure.
Identification: Very similar to Tufted Duck and care is needed to distinguish the two species. Slightly smaller than Tufted Duck and lacks that species distinctive crest. Adult males can be separated from Tufted Duck by having much greyer flanks with a white vertical stripe, as well as different pattern on the bill (broad white stripe near the tip). Adult females appear quite different to female Tufted Duck, being much paler overall and having an obvious white eyering. Also shows a hint of the obvious vertical white stripe found on the flanks of the male. Juvenile Ring-necked Ducks are similar to females, though the head pattern is not as contrasting and lacks the broad white stripe on the bill.
Similar Species: Tufted Duck
Call: Generally silent when seen in Ireland.
Diet: Mainly feeds by diving for freshwater invertebrates (beetles, shrimp). Ring-necked Ducks will also feed on plants, such as pondweeds.
Breeding: Ring-necked Ducks breed in central and northern North America.
Wintering: The species winters south of the breeding grounds in the United States to Central America. Occasionally wanders to Ireland and then can be seen with Tufted Duck on larger lakes. In September/October 2008, a flock of 15 was recorded on Inishmore on the Aran Islands.
Where to See: Ring-necked Ducks could be seen in any large flock of Tufted Ducks in Ireland.
Physical characteristics
Although male ring-necked ducks superficially resemble their counterparts in greater and lesser scaups, their peaked, angular head profile, distinctive white bill markings, and uniformly dark upper wings distinguish them. Female ring-necked ducks most closely resemble female redheads, but are distinguished by their smaller size, peaked, angular head profile, and pale region around the face. Male ring-necked ducks have an iridescent black head, neck, breast and upperparts. The belly and flanks are whitish to grayish with a distinctive triangular white wedge extending upward in the area in front of the folded wing. The bill is slate with a white border around the base and nares and a pale white band behind the black tip. Their name is derived from a faint brownish ring around the base of the neck, which is visible only upon close inspection. The legs and feet are gray-blue and the iris is yellow. Relatively silent except in display when a low whistling note is uttered. Female ring-necked ducks have a brown head with a black crown, light brown cheeks and chin, and a white eye-ring. A narrow white line extends from the eye to the back of the head. The bill is slate with a faint white band near the tip. The neck, back, sides, and flanks are brown and the belly is white. The legs and feet are gray-blue and the iris is brown.
Habitat
In winter, ring-necked ducks use a variety of habitats, such as fresh and brackish marshes, shallow lakes, estuarine bays, and coastal lagoons. During breeding they prefer sedge-meadow marshes, swamps, and bogs surrounded by woody vegetation
Other details
The majority of ring-necked ducks migrate through the Central and Mississippi Flyways to inland wintering grounds along the Gulf of Mexico and the southern Atlantic coast of the USA. In winter, ring-necked ducks use a variety of habitats, such as fresh and brackish marshes, shallow lakes, estuarine bays, and coastal lagoons. Ring-necked ducks are winter visitors to Central America and the northern Caribbean, and vagrant to Trinidad and Venezuela. vagrant to Western Europe, most notably Ireland and the UK
Feeding
Ring-necked ducks dive in shallow water to feed on tubers, seeds, and leaves of moist-soil and aquatic plants (pondweeds, coontail, water milfoil, hydrilla, sedges, grasses, wild rice, etc.). They also eat aquatic insects, snails, and clams.
Breeding
Ring-necked ducks breed from southeastern and east-central Alaska, central British Columbia eastward through northern Saskatchewan to Newfoundland, south to northeastern California, southeastern Arizona, southern Colorado, Iowa, Illinois, northern New York, and Massachusetts. They prefer sedge-meadow marshes, swamps, and bogs surrounded by woody vegetation. Female ring-necked ducks nest in flooded or floating emergent vegetation and lay an average of 8 to 10 eggs.
Migration
Migratory; winters in lowlands mostly along Atlantic and Gulf coasts, but also following Pacific, and S to Panama and West Indies. A regular trans-Atlantic vagrant, most frequent in Britain, but records from most of Europe; has also occurred NW Africa (Morocco) and Japan.
Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris) Co.Dublin 19-04-2022
Grange Castle Business Park
Clondalkin Co.Dublin
19-04-2022
spanwidth min.: 62 cm
spanwidth max.: 63 cm
size min.: 37 cm
size max.: 46 cm
Breeding
incubation min.: 25 days
incubation max.: 29 days
fledging min.: 49 days
fledging max.: 56 days
broods 1
eggs min.: 6
eggs max.: 14
Aythya collaris
Lacha mhuinceach
Status: A rare winter visitor to wetlands from October to March, almost always associating with flocks of Tufted Duck.
Conservation Concern: Green-listed in Ireland. The European population is regarded as Secure.
Identification: Very similar to Tufted Duck and care is needed to distinguish the two species. Slightly smaller than Tufted Duck and lacks that species distinctive crest. Adult males can be separated from Tufted Duck by having much greyer flanks with a white vertical stripe, as well as different pattern on the bill (broad white stripe near the tip). Adult females appear quite different to female Tufted Duck, being much paler overall and having an obvious white eyering. Also shows a hint of the obvious vertical white stripe found on the flanks of the male. Juvenile Ring-necked Ducks are similar to females, though the head pattern is not as contrasting and lacks the broad white stripe on the bill.
Similar Species: Tufted Duck
Call: Generally silent when seen in Ireland.
Diet: Mainly feeds by diving for freshwater invertebrates (beetles, shrimp). Ring-necked Ducks will also feed on plants, such as pondweeds.
Breeding: Ring-necked Ducks breed in central and northern North America.
Wintering: The species winters south of the breeding grounds in the United States to Central America. Occasionally wanders to Ireland and then can be seen with Tufted Duck on larger lakes. In September/October 2008, a flock of 15 was recorded on Inishmore on the Aran Islands.
Where to See: Ring-necked Ducks could be seen in any large flock of Tufted Ducks in Ireland.
Physical characteristics
Although male ring-necked ducks superficially resemble their counterparts in greater and lesser scaups, their peaked, angular head profile, distinctive white bill markings, and uniformly dark upper wings distinguish them. Female ring-necked ducks most closely resemble female redheads, but are distinguished by their smaller size, peaked, angular head profile, and pale region around the face. Male ring-necked ducks have an iridescent black head, neck, breast and upperparts. The belly and flanks are whitish to grayish with a distinctive triangular white wedge extending upward in the area in front of the folded wing. The bill is slate with a white border around the base and nares and a pale white band behind the black tip. Their name is derived from a faint brownish ring around the base of the neck, which is visible only upon close inspection. The legs and feet are gray-blue and the iris is yellow. Relatively silent except in display when a low whistling note is uttered. Female ring-necked ducks have a brown head with a black crown, light brown cheeks and chin, and a white eye-ring. A narrow white line extends from the eye to the back of the head. The bill is slate with a faint white band near the tip. The neck, back, sides, and flanks are brown and the belly is white. The legs and feet are gray-blue and the iris is brown.
Habitat
In winter, ring-necked ducks use a variety of habitats, such as fresh and brackish marshes, shallow lakes, estuarine bays, and coastal lagoons. During breeding they prefer sedge-meadow marshes, swamps, and bogs surrounded by woody vegetation
Other details
The majority of ring-necked ducks migrate through the Central and Mississippi Flyways to inland wintering grounds along the Gulf of Mexico and the southern Atlantic coast of the USA. In winter, ring-necked ducks use a variety of habitats, such as fresh and brackish marshes, shallow lakes, estuarine bays, and coastal lagoons. Ring-necked ducks are winter visitors to Central America and the northern Caribbean, and vagrant to Trinidad and Venezuela. vagrant to Western Europe, most notably Ireland and the UK
Feeding
Ring-necked ducks dive in shallow water to feed on tubers, seeds, and leaves of moist-soil and aquatic plants (pondweeds, coontail, water milfoil, hydrilla, sedges, grasses, wild rice, etc.). They also eat aquatic insects, snails, and clams.
Breeding
Ring-necked ducks breed from southeastern and east-central Alaska, central British Columbia eastward through northern Saskatchewan to Newfoundland, south to northeastern California, southeastern Arizona, southern Colorado, Iowa, Illinois, northern New York, and Massachusetts. They prefer sedge-meadow marshes, swamps, and bogs surrounded by woody vegetation. Female ring-necked ducks nest in flooded or floating emergent vegetation and lay an average of 8 to 10 eggs.
Migration
Migratory; winters in lowlands mostly along Atlantic and Gulf coasts, but also following Pacific, and S to Panama and West Indies. A regular trans-Atlantic vagrant, most frequent in Britain, but records from most of Europe; has also occurred NW Africa (Morocco) and Japan.