This small, freshwater diving duck can be found across most of North America—as a breeder in the north, and as a seasonal migrant or winter visitor elsewhere. While many duck species have suffered significant declines throughout the past century, the Ring-necked Duck has proven rather adaptable, increasing in both number and range. The duck’s name is misleading; the subtle purple ring around the male’s otherwise black neck is often impossible to detect.

Ring-necked Ducks can be found in summer throughout the northern portions of North America. The traditional center of the breeding range was the upper Midwest, but the species’ range has expanded considerably in recent years, and the ducks can now be found breeding from coast to coast. In spring and fall, they extend across the continent, often in large migratory flocks. Their winter range extends across the southern United States, throughout most of Mexico, and into Middle America and the Caribbean.

Until the 1930s, Ring-necked Ducks bred primarily in the northern central portions of the continent. Over the ensuing decades, the species’ range has expanded significantly, first to the east, and more recently into the northwest. East of the Great Lakes, Ring-necked Ducks now breed throughout parts of northern New England, and across eastern Canada to Newfoundland. Since the 1980s, the northwestern portion of the range has expanded into Yukon Territory and Alaska.

Compared with many other North American ducks, the Ring-necked Duck has fared rather well over the past century. The population, however, is still vulnerable to many of the same dangers as other species. Ring-necked Ducks are a popular game bird; up to half a million birds are taken annually in North America. Populations should be monitored, as the species is potentially susceptible to over-harvesting. The banning of lead shot in the United States (1991) and Canada (1997) has been highly beneficial. Compared to other ducks, Ring-necked Ducks suffered disproportionately from lead shot ingestion, due to their feeding habits. The creation of refuges throughout their migratory and winter range has proven advantageous, particularly around the Mississippi Delta and Gulf Coast.

Remain aware of local, regional, and federal land management decisions, particularly those that affect our wetlands.

 

Contact your legislators in support of wise land management initiatives, such as wetland restoration along the Gulf Coast, and The North American Waterfowl Management Plan.

Ducks Unlimited maintains important information on many current issues affecting North American waterfowl: http://www.ducks.org/conservation/index.asp

Hohman, W. L., and R. T. Eberhardt. 1998. Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris). In The Birds of North America, No. 329 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.

 

Kortright, Francis H. 1943. The Ducks, Geese and Swans of North America. The American Wildlife Institute, Washington D.C.