238 



BAY, SEA OR DIVING DUCKS 



male, and white vermiculated feathers appear among the brown feathers of sides. 

 By end of December young male is nearly in fully adult plumage, with the two 

 rings on bill, but the collar hardly visible. Wing of Both Sexes. As in adult female 

 but young male shows more greenish gloss to coverts and tertials. 



SPECIMEN IDENTIFICATION 



MALE. WINTER PLUMAGE: General effect: A small duck, with black upper-parts 

 and chest, and white breast and grey sides. Chief distinguishing features (a) hind 

 toe with lobe, (b) two bluish-white rings on bill, one at base and one at tip 

 (fig. 44), (c) grey speculum, (d) vague chestnut collar on lower neck. 



Superficially like male Scaups but has black back instead of greyish, as in those 

 species. 



AUTUMN AND JUVENILE PLUMAGE: See "Descriptions." 



FEMALE. General effect: A small, brown, duck, with a white breast. Chief 

 features (a), (b), (c) same as male, (d) whitish ring around eye and whitish area 

 at base of bill. 



Very similar to female Redhead but that species lacks the clear white eye- 

 ring and the two white rings on the bill. Superficially resembles the females of 

 Canvas-back and Scaups, which are also brown-backed, white-breasted ducks. 

 The whitish area on face near base of bill, less clearly defined than in female 

 Scaups. 



FIELD MARKS 



ON THE WATER. The male appears 

 as a very black duck, but with grey sides that 

 seem almost white; the white crescent in front 

 of bend of wing is noticeable at a consider- 

 able distance. Due to the long feathers of the 

 crown, the head presents a puffy appearance. 

 At close range, or when viewed through 

 glasses, the white rings on the bill can be noticed. The males appear very similar 

 to the male Scaups but can be told by their darker backs, and differently shaped 

 heads. The female is brown with paler cheeks and if close, shows clearly the 

 white eye-ring and white rings on the bill. Female is much like females of Red- 

 head and Scaups; if close it can be told from the former by its smaller size and 

 white eye-ring; from the latter by its white eye-ring and by its much less clearly 

 defined whitish face-patch near base of bill. 



IN FLIGHT. Ringnecks fly in small 

 flocks of 6 to 12 birds, in open formation 

 and with a swift, direct flight; they alight 

 without circling. In flight the white bar in 

 front of the wing of the male merges into 

 the white breast and is not seen; the grey 

 speculum, black upperparts and white un- 

 derparts are noticeable characters. Females 

 are best recognized by their accompanying 

 mates. On the wing both sexes resemble the 

 Scaups and Redheads; the flashy white 

 speculum of the former and the red head 

 of the latter will distinguish. 



VOICE. Very similar to that of the Lesser Scaups. 



