Also known as Ringbill, Ring-billed Duck, Blackhead, Moonplate
Ring-necked ducks are compact diving waterfowl renowned for their ability to feed in surprisingly shallow, vegetated wetlands compared to other diving ducks. Males display an iridescent purplish head, a distinctive white band across the slate bill, and a faint chestnut collar that is notoriously difficult to see in field conditions. They frequent forested wetlands and beaver ponds across North America, springing directly into flight from the water surface rather than pattering along like most divers.
