92 
sometimes tell the two Scaups apart in life by the colour characters of the primaries as 
above, otherwise, as size is a deceptive character, they are probably inseparable in the 
field. The female is distinguished from all other white-bellied brown Ducks, except the 
Greater Scaup and the Ring-neck, by the white spot at the base of the bill, and from the 
latter as well as the Redhead and Canvas-back by the white instead of grey speculum. 
Nesting. On the ground, near grassy ponds. 
Distribution. Across the continent. Breeds throughout the Canadian west, north to 
near the Arctic coast. 
This is the Scaup commonly breeding throughout the Canadian 
prairies and southern British Columbia. All records of the Greater nesting 
within this area have proved upon investigation to be this species. 
‘‘The Lesser is the most numerous Scaup on the prairies, as the Greater 
is on the coast. They are both deep water feeders, diving for their food 
much as do the Canvas-back and Redheads, and spend most of their time 
on the open water of the lakes or the shallow bays of the coast. The 
Lesser is most numerous on the plains and marshes just before the freeze- 
up and many migrate only when driven out by the freezing of the waters. 
Such birds are invariably very fat. Scaups are not very enthusiastically 
hunted but are taken in the same manner as Canvas-backs, by both flight 
and decoy shooting. They are speedy flyers, but as they travel in straight 
lines and bunch compactly in the flock, they lose the advantage of their 
speed, and are easily shot.” 
Figure 127 
Ring-necked Duck; scale, J. 
Female Male 
150. Ring- necked Duck, ring-billed duck. Marila collaris. L, 16*50. Like a 
very small Scaup with a black back and in highest plumage with a faint reddish or coppery 
band about the middle of neck and a light ring about bill (Figure 127). 
Distinctions. Size and general scaup-like coloration in all plumages. The adult 
male has a solidly black back, two white rings on bill, coppery neck band, and grey specu- 
lum. The neck band is usually somewhat vague and partly suggested by a greyish or 
brownish one on the Scaups. The female and juvenile are very like comparable plumages 
of the Scaups. The grey instead of white speculum is the best distinction between them. 
The white patches at base of bill, meeting across chin, will separate Ring-necks from any 
other Duck with grey speculum. 
Field Marks. The male is like a small Scaup with a black back, but with the light grey 
flank feathers overlapping the wings and part of the back; in life it appears as a white- 
bodied bird. The head has also a fuller crest than the Scaups, giving an entirely different 
contour to the head. Other plumages probably can be separated from the two Scaups only 
by the grey instead of flashing white speculum. 
Nesting. On the ground, near grassy ponds. 
