From Opus

Photo by Leslie
Location Oak Park, California

Aythya collaris

[edit] Identification

When in flight, both male and female shows a grey stripe on flight feathers.

[edit] Male

• Grey bill with white band
• Black head which when breeding looks shiny purple
• Highest point of head far behind eye
• White belly
• Yellow eyes
• Back looks black in the field
• White "spur" between breast and sides
• Field guides mention a cinnamon-colored ring around the neck that probably can only be seen in the hand

[edit] Female

• Brown head and body, sides of body paler than rest
• White belly visible in flight
• Dark bill with more subtle markings compared to male
• Brown eyes
• White eye-ring may extend behind eye as a stripe

[edit] Similar Species

The very similar Tufted Duck shows white in the wing.

[edit] Distribution

Breeds in Canada and north west United States; mostly vacates breeding area in winter, migrating to southern USA and Central America, being rare but regular in Panama and a vagrant in South America. Occurs as a vagrant with some regularity in Europe^[2][3][4][5].

[edit] Taxonomy

This is a monotypic species^[1].

[edit] Habitat

Breeding on freshwater marches, wooded lakes, rivers and ponds, also found in coastal habitats in winter.

[edit] Behaviour

[edit] Diet

Includes aquatic plants, invertebrates, and small fish.

[edit] Breeding

The nest is found on dry land but near water. It is bowl-shaped, built with aquatic vegetation and lined with down. The female lays 8 to 10 eggs.

[edit] References

1. Clements, James F. 2007. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to October 2007. Ithaca: Cornell University Press. ISBN 9780801445019
2. Restall et al. 2006. Birds of Northern South America. Yale University Press. ISBN 9780300124156
3. Ridgely & Gwynne 1989. Birds of Panama. Princeton Paperbacks. ISBN 0691025126
4. Beaman, M., S. Madge, K.M. Olsen. 1998. Fuglene i Europa, Nordafrika og Mellemøsten. Copenhagen, Denmark: Gads Forlag, ISBN 87-12-02276-4
5. National Geographic Society. 1987. Field Guide to the Birds of North America. Washington DC: National Geographic Society.
6. Wikipedia

[edit] External Links