{"id":6129,"date":"2024-10-02T02:44:57","date_gmt":"2024-10-02T02:44:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/biol325\/?p=6129"},"modified":"2024-10-02T14:43:20","modified_gmt":"2024-10-02T14:43:20","slug":"the-ring-necked-duck-a-misnomer-of-a-waterfowl","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/biol325\/2024\/10\/02\/the-ring-necked-duck-a-misnomer-of-a-waterfowl\/","title":{"rendered":"The Ring-necked Duck: A Misnomer of a Waterfowl"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Introduction: <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris) <\/em>is a common, yet distinctive, duck found across North America. It\u2019s prominent black and white plumage, brightly contrasted eye colour, and unique head shape which are best used in its identification begs the question: where is the ring around its neck? Interestingly enough, the Ring-necked Duck received this name during the 19th<\/sup> century by biologists examining dead specimens, where the faint light-coloured band around the neck of the carcass peaked their attention (AllAboutBirds.org<\/a>). Despite its misleading name, the Ring-necked Duck is frequently and easily identified by bird enthusiasts and biologists along its migration routes and nesting grounds. In fact, the Ring-necked Duck\u2019s abundance in the U.S. state of Minnesota and surrounding Great Lakes area has been of particular interest for wildlife management studies… Keep reading to find out more!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Figure 1: A male Ring-necked Duck with distinctive features such as it’s tall head, yellow eyes, and contrastingly bold black and white plumage. Credit: AllAboutBirds.org<\/a><\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Description & Identification:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Ring-necked Duck belongs to the order of birds called Anseriformes and are a member of the Anatidae family which includes various ducks, swans, and geese. More specifically, Aythya collaris <\/em>is classified within the Aythyini tribe, a group of about 17 different species of ducks who specialize in diving (Livezey, 1996<\/a>). Despite belonging to a relatively large group of ducks, the Ring-necked Duck’s physical appearance truly sets it apart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As mentioned, when trying to identify the Ring-necked Duck, don\u2019t be fooled into believing the neck is its most prominent feature. Arguably, the best way to identify a Ring-necked Duck is by its tall head, which has a distinct sharp peak on the rear of its head, also known as its “crown” (Sibley, 2016) (Figure 1).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like many waterfowl, male<\/strong> Ring-necked Ducks sport the more recognizable livery, with unique black and white plumage while females<\/strong> are clad in more subdued brown tones for camouflage rather than flare (U.S. Fish & Wildlife service<\/a>). However, both sexes share characteristic traits in the colour of their bills with both males and females having grey bills with black tips and clearly marked white bands across them (Figures 2 & 3) (All About Birds<\/a>). This distinctive bill pattern has led recognizable organizations like the American Ornithological Society to consider renaming the bird to the \u201cRing-billed<\/em> Duck\u201d due to it being such a notable feature (American Ornithological Society<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Figure 2: A male Ring-necked Duck. Credit: BirdZilla.com<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Figure 3: A female Ring-necked Duck. Credit: AllAboutBirds.org<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Another distinguishing trait that sets the Ring-necked Duck apart from other ducks is actually a structural feature that it lacks. The Ring-necked Duck lacks a speculum<\/strong>, which is the bright iridescent patch of feathers seen on some duck’s wings which are often admired by observers (Ducks.org<\/a>). This absent quality is missing among the ducks known as “pochard<\/strong>” ducks, the technical term for a group of duck species who specialize in diving for food. It can serve as a quick, preliminary way of differentiating Ring-necked Ducks from species such as Mallards or Wood Ducks (Figure 4).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Figure 4: A Pacific Black Duck dipping its head underwater for food, rather than diving. This is a characteristic behaviour of ducks who have a bright iridescent speculum on their wing. The Ring-necked Duck lacks both this vibrantly coloured attribute and behaviour. Credit: Tony Whitehead, Wildlight.co.nz<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Behaviour:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ducks are often divided into one of two groups determined by their feeding\/foraging behaviour as either “dabbling ducks<\/strong>” or “diving ducks<\/strong>“. Dabbling ducks, also known as “puddle ducks” are those who spend most of their time in shallow water as the name implies. Instead of diving, this group of rather buoyant ducks dip their heads underwater to snatch up food such as aquatic plants and insects below the waters surface (Ducks.org<\/a>) (Figure 5).<\/p>\n\n\n

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Figure 5: A pair of “dabbling ducks” feeding. Credit: CamoTrading.com<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

However, the Ring-necked Duck is an expert diving <\/strong>duck, preferring to forage aquatic plants and insects from deeper bodies of water, often several feet deep (Audubon.org<\/a>). This diving behaviour leads to a trade-off, sacrificing the ability to walk efficiently on land due to its rear-positioned legs which work more effectively as underwater propellers than land-based waddlers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additionally, diving ducks such as the Ring-necked Duck, lack the ability to take off vertically from the water\u2019s surface (Audubon.org<\/a>). This is a result of their specialized adaptation for diving, which subsequently results in a relatively smaller wing size than the dabbling ducks for better underwater maneuverability at the cost of reduced lift (Ducks.org<\/a>). Consequentially, like other diving ducks, Ring-necked Ducks require a running take-off across the waters surface to generate the required speed necessary for flight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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