Description A small 12-18 inch compact diving duck the male is primarily black with a white under belly and a peaked crown. This bird has a blue bill with a white ring around the base with yellow eyes. The female has a dark brown body plumage with a very dark back, a dark brown crown, pale gray-brown face with a brown eye with a narrow ring. Humans and other animals often confuse this duck with the Lesser Scaup.

Lifecycle Nest building occurs on floating islands or open marshes and are made of grass, moss, and other nearby materials in boggy marshes or small lakes. The female lays 8-12 olive colored eggs, but not all the eggs are same color. Some eggs are olive -gray, olive-brown, and yellowish brown. The female alone incubates the eggs for 25-29 days and once hatched the chicks will fledge after 49-50 days.

Habitat Found primarily in wooded ponds, lakes, estuaries, marshes, and rivers but in the southern and northern states of the United States it can also be seen in saltwater. Fall migration starts in September, and ends in December. Spring migration starts in February and ends in March. Often seen in flocks of both genders. They also fly with the Greater Scaup, Lesser Scaup, Canvasback, and Redhead.

Diet The Ring-Necked Duck could be conisdered a vegetarian as they feed primarily on aquatic plants and seeds. They do however also dive for snails, mollusks, worms, crustaceans and insect larvae.