Photo: Becky Matsubara from El Sobrante, California / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Ring-necked Duck
Aythya collaris
Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris) — Ducks, Geese & Swans of North America.
Found across 20 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris) is a member of the Anatidae family found in North America. Adults weigh 705 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Anseriformes
- Family Anatidae Ducks, Geese, Swans
- Genus Aythya
- Species collaris
Quick facts
- Weight
- 705 g
- Diet
- Aquatic plant-eaters
- Family
- Anatidae
- Order
- Anseriformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Critically Endangered
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Ring-necked Duck feeds mainly on aquatic plants and algae.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it swims and feeds in and around water.
Migration
The Ring-necked Duck is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris) is a member of the Anatidae family, within the order Anseriformes. It occurs naturally across North America. Its distribution covers NA widespread.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 705 g, with a wing length of about 19.5 cm and a tail of around 5.8 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 4.9 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Ring-necked Duck?
The Ring-necked Duck is a large bird that weighs around 705 g.
Where does the Ring-necked Duck live?
The Ring-necked Duck is found across North America with a range covering NA widespread, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Ring-necked Duck belong to?
The Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris) belongs to the Anatidae family, in the order Anseriformes.
What does the Ring-necked Duck eat?
The Ring-necked Duck feeds mainly on aquatic plants and algae.
Does the Ring-necked Duck migrate?
The Ring-necked Duck is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Ring-necked Duck endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Ring-necked Duck make?
1 real field recording of the Ring-necked Duck — including its flight call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Ring-necked Duck's range?
The Ring-necked Duck has a mapped global range of about 4.9 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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