WATER BIRDS. 97 
white, the belly grayish posteriorily and. the sides and flanks distinctly waved with dusky; 
back and scapulars with numerous zig-zig cross lines of black and white; wings black, 
the speculum pure white tipped with black: rump and upper and under 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. 
gare 15 to 16.50 inches; wing 7.50 to 8.25; culmen 1.58 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 found 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. i 
It arrives from the south Fig. 22. Ring-necked Duck. 
ird, B 7 & Ridgway’s Water Birds of North 
somewhat later than the From Baird, Brower & pittle Brown & Co.) 
Bluebill, probably 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, 166). The eggs in 
color. are like those of the Bluebill, and average 2.23 by 1.57 inches. 
This species seems to be much less common in Michigan than any other 
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