Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris) is in the Ducks, Geese, and Swans family (Anatidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 53,342 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in March.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: winter visitor. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Ring-necked Duck: observations by month (U.S.)
About Ring-necked Duck
The ring-necked duck (Aythya collaris) is a diving duck from North America commonly found in freshwater ponds and lakes. The scientific name is derived from Greek aithuia an unidentified seabird mentioned by authors including Hesychius and Aristotle, and Latin collaris, "of the neck" from collum, "neck".From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Ring-necked Duck by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 10,323 | January | Oct–Apr |
| Texas | 6,824 | January | Nov–Mar |
| Washington | 3,138 | March | Nov–Apr |
| Arizona | 3,130 | January | Nov–Mar |
| Oregon | 2,440 | March | Oct–Apr |
| Florida | 2,137 | January | Nov–Mar |
| Maryland | 2,089 | February | Nov–Mar |
| Virginia | 1,631 | February | Dec–Mar |
| Colorado | 1,627 | January | Oct–Jul |
| Ohio | 1,609 | March | Feb–Apr |
| Massachusetts | 1,579 | March | Mar–Apr |
| New York | 1,394 | March | Mar–Apr |
| Minnesota | 1,376 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Pennsylvania | 1,070 | March | Feb–Mar |
| New Jersey | 976 | March | Jan–Mar |
| Illinois | 868 | March | Mar–Apr |
| Michigan | 818 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Nevada | 791 | January | Nov–Apr |
| Idaho | 787 | November | Oct–Apr |
| Wisconsin | 710 | March | Mar–Apr |
| New Mexico | 659 | January | Oct–Apr |
| North Carolina | 525 | January | Nov–Mar |
| Utah | 522 | March | Dec–Apr |
| Tennessee | 466 | January | Nov–Mar |
| Vermont | 439 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Alabama | 387 | January | Nov–Feb |
| Georgia | 366 | February | Nov–Feb |
| Louisiana | 348 | January | Nov–Feb |
| South Carolina | 343 | January | Jan–Feb |
| Alaska | 339 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Wyoming | 292 | September | Apr–Oct |
| Oklahoma | 281 | January | Nov–Mar |
| Indiana | 268 | March | Feb–Apr |
| Arkansas | 255 | January | Nov–Mar |
| Connecticut | 248 | March | Jan–Apr |
| Maine | 224 | April | Mar–May |
| Montana | 213 | June | Mar–Sep |
| West Virginia | 211 | March | Jan–Mar |
| Mississippi | 201 | November | Nov–Feb |
| Kansas | 199 | March | Oct–Mar |
| New Hampshire | 196 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Delaware | 182 | March | Jan–Mar |
| Missouri | 156 | March | Nov–Apr |
| Iowa | 152 | March | Mar–Apr |
| District of Columbia | 109 | November | Oct–Mar |
| Kentucky | 104 | November | Nov–Nov |
| Nebraska | 90 | March | Mar–Apr |
| South Dakota | 86 | March | Mar–Apr |
| Rhode Island | 59 | February | Nov–Apr |
| North Dakota | 56 | April | Apr–May |
| Hawaii | 49 | February | Nov–Mar |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related birds (Ducks, Geese, and Swans)
Photography tips
- Use a fast shutter (1/2000 s or faster) for birds in flight.
- Focus on the eye and shoot at the bird's eye level.
- Approach slowly and stop if the bird changes behavior; never bait or flush birds.
- Morning activity peaks in the first two hours after sunrise.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Ring-necked Duck?
Nationally, March has the most observations, with the main season from November to April.
Where is Ring-necked Duck most often seen?
The most observations come from California, Texas, Washington.