Ring-necked Duck
From Natural History of Southeast Alaska
Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris) Uncommon in mirgration and winter. Rare in summer. Best seen at Swan Lake when it is ice free.
| Spring | Summer | Fall | Winter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uncommon | Very Rare | Uncommon | Uncommon |
Best observed at: Swan Lake
Preferred Habitats: Lake, River
Observed at: Swan Lake, Indian River, Crescent Harbor
Breeding Status: Possible but unconfirmed
Family: Anatidae
Documented in the Sitka area
J Dan Webster
Scarce resident, but there are no confirmed breeding records. Wosnessensky collected one at Sitka 11 June 1842 (Gabrielson and Lincoln 1959). Recorded on 9 of the 28 Christmas counts. Also, C. Johnstone saw one 6 to 8 May 1975 (Gibson 1975) and a pair 4 April 1985. There were several June observations on the Sitka Breeding Bird Survey, 1993-97.
Ring-necked Ducks are somewhat mysterious in the Sitka area. They are typically observed on Swan Lake whenever there is sufficient open water. However, unlike other ducks that also winter on the lake, they are almost never observed along the salt water shoreline when the lake is frozen. They have been observed on Indian River, so it seems likely that they utilize rivers when the lake is not available, however they are not frequently reported from there, even when the lake is frozen.
