The dark back, puffy head, and vertical white wedge on the side just forward of the wing are the best field marks for the male.  Ring-necked Ducks favor sheltered waters more than most divers and are often seen in the San Diego area in small flocks on small, inland tree-lined ponds, but are occasionally seen on the Los Peñasquitos Lagoon from October to mid May.  Despite their name, the brown neck ring is very hard to see, but in both sexes the bill has a distinctive light ring behind the black tip and another at the base.  In some areas they are known locally as “ring-bills”.

Photo and text by Dr. Gary Grantham