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Project Noah Nature School
Aythya collaris
From afar these can be mistaken for Scaup or Tufted ducks except for the back peaked shape of the head. Males have black back and dark head, gray sides with a white mark on side chest that was described to me as a whale's tail. Bill is dark gray with border white and black nail. Female is similar to female Redheads. Brown over all in different shades, with darker wings and crown. Halo around bill and white ring around the end of bill with black nail.
In breeding season can be found in freshwater marshes, bogs, and other shallow, often acidic wetlands. And winter in beaver ponds, small lakes, marshes, cattle ponds, or even flooded fields
In my learning process I over looked this duck as I was taking pictures. I thought it was a Scaup and I put it aside till I sent the picture to someone and he made me look it up. Thanks to him I was able to figure out the ID.
I was also hoping for a Tufted duck when I took this picture along with many I took that day of a large flock of Scaup and Buffleheads. Didn't even notice this til later. I thought the stretching of the neck made him look so odd.
Thank you but I also figured it out just after I posted it. A birder from our mailing list in the area nudged me last night but didn't put it all together until I sent him a list of birds I still wanted to take pictures of and he replied I had a picture of one on the list. So I figured it had to a Ringneck because the Tufted Duck and Redhead didn't match. But really, thanks for confirmation.
Spotted on Dec 22, 2012
Submitted on Dec 24, 2012
