Knowledge From Cliffy V.

Male ring-necks have a black breast and back. The glossy purple head appears black. The sides are gray (sometimes appearing white), and the chestnut neck ring for which ringnecks are named is only visible in hand. On the water, drakes show a vertical white crescent in front of the wing. Hens are brown with a white eye-ring and an indistinct white area near the bill. The most notable characteristics on both sexes are the dark, white-ringed bill and peaked triangular head-shape. The speculum is bluish-gray, and the belly is white. Flying ringnecks can be distinguished from scaups by the black back and gray wing-stripe. They fly swiftly in compact wedges and often land without circling.