Sunday 9 November 2014

Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Aythya (a seabird named by Aristotle) collaris ("of the neck")
Female Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collarisat Wicksteed Park, Kettering - November 2014

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 690-790g  /  Length: 37-46cm  /  Wingspan: 63cm
No UK Status / IUCN Red List Least Concern

I must admit, this is a species I tracked down purely because it was very local to me rather than being particularly inspired by it.  It's a fairly widely distributed species in North America, found primarily in the Canada, USA and Mexico, migrating long distance the length of the continent.  This long distance travel makes it a prime candidate to get lost or blown off course to become a vagrant to Western Europe and apparently a couple tend to be present in the UK at any one time.  However, unfortunately this female is a fairly drab bird and difficult to pick out from across a lake amidst other brown female ducks.

Related Species:
Order: Anseriformes
Family: Anatidae
Genus: Aythya
Subspecies: None - monotypic

- Sighting Locations -
UNITED KINGDOM - A rare but regular vagrant from North America.
 - A single individual seen distantly at Wicksteed Park in Kettering in November 2014. 

Further Notes: BirdForum OpusIUCN Red ListRSPBWikipedia, Xeno-canto

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