Bird of the Week #9

This week's Bird of the week is Ring-Necked Duck!

Ring-Necked Ducks are about the same size as a Northern Shoveler. The males have whitish bodies and the females have brownish bodies. Both sexes have black heads and chestnut necks, hence their name. Their blue, ringed bills have led some to think that it should be called ring-billed duck, due to it being more prominent on the birds. They feed on aquatic plants as well as insects, worms, and crustaceans.

Ring-Necked Ducks breed in Canada and the northern states and winter over the southern two-thirds of the United States all the way south to Central America and the Caribbean. These ducks are not very common around New York City. The best time to see them is in fall. They are fairly rare in Central Park, but have been reported with increasing regularity in the past few years, especially at the Reservoir. Currently there are 3-4 birds at the Reservoir. They are pretty easy to spot in the southwest corner where they often hang out.