WATER BIRDS. 



97 



white, the belly grayish posteriorily and the sides and flanks distinctly waved with dnsky; 

 back and scapulars with numerous zig-zig cross lines of black and\vhite; wings black, 

 the speculum pure white tipped wath black; rump and upper and imder tail-coverts black. 

 Adult female: Wings and speculum much as in male, but wings browner; head, neck and 

 upper back brown; a conspicuous area of white feathers about the base of the upper man- 

 dible (but not on the chin) ; breast grayish or grayish-brown, whiter on the belly, browner 

 on the sides; back and scapulars brownish; rump and upper tail-coverts brownish-black, 

 under tail-coverts grayish-brown. 



Length 15 to 16.50 inches; wing 7.50 to 8.25; culmen 1.5S_to 1.90; greatest width of bill 

 .80 to .95. 



47. Ring-necked Duck. Marila collaris (Donov.). (150) 



Synonyms: Ring-necked Scaup. Ring-neck, Ring-bill, Ring-billed Blackhead, Marsh 

 Blue-bill (?). — Anas collaris, Donovan, 1809. — Fuligula collaris, Bonap., 1842. — Fuligula 

 rufitorques, Nutt., 1834, Aud., 1835.— Fulix collaris, Baird, 1858, B. B. & R., 1884. 



Figure 22. 



Most resembles the Lesser Bluebill, from which it may be known by 

 the dark bill with light cross-bar beyond the middle, the white chin mark- 

 ing, and the speculum, which is bluish-gray, never white. The adult male 

 always shows the chestnut collar, but females and immature males lack 

 this. 



Distribution. — North America, breeding far north and migrating south 

 to Guatemala and the West Indies. 



In many ways this bird resembles the Bluebill and Redhead to which 

 it is closely related, but in habits it differs in at least two respects: It is 

 usually foiuid singly or in 

 pairs, rarely if ever in large 

 compact flocks; also, it seems 

 to prefer inland waters, 

 ponds, and marshy streams 

 rather than the larger open 

 waters so much frequented 

 by its relatives. Naturally 

 it may be supposed that its 

 food is decidedly different, but 

 I am not aware that this 

 has been proved. It dives 

 easily and stays under water 

 a long time, and there is 

 no reason why it should not 

 feed precisely as does the 

 Bluebill. 



It arrives from the south 

 somewhat later than the 

 Blue))ill, pr()]:)ably most often 

 between March 20 and April 10, in the southern counties. In the fall it 

 goes south in September and October. 



It is not known to nest within our limits, but is one of the commonest 

 nesting ducks throughout northern Minnesota, and is not uncommon in 

 North Dakota. Mr. Job found a nest June 14, 1898, in the Turtle Moun- 

 tains, with twelve buffy eggs nearly fresh (Auk, XIX, 1G6). The eggs in 

 color are like those of the Bluebill, and average 2.23 by 1.57 inches. 



This sj^ccies seems to be much less common in Michigan than any other 

 13 



Fig. 22. Ring-necked Duck. 

 )in Baiid, Brewer & Ridgway's Water Birds of North 

 .America. (Little, Brown & Co.) 



