(Aythya collaris)
In the breeding season the ring-neck male has a dirty orange ring
around the neck which disappears wholly, or nearly so, before the
beginning of the hunting season. The ring-neck is generally more
plentiful on the fresh waters. I have seen great numbers of them at
the mouth of the Colorado river. In fact, both the ring-neck and the
lesser scaup range much farther south than do the larger species, for
while few of the larger scaup are seen in Mexico, great quantities of
the little blue-bills are found throughout the republic, especially on
the salt marshes of the two coasts. All of these three species breed
along the mountain lakes from California north.
=Color=--Male--Head and neck, black, with an indigo sheen when turned
in the sun. This will always distinguish it from the larger blue-bill
whose sheen is green and the lesser blue-bill whose sheen is purple.
The speculum is gray; bill, bluish with a pale blue band across it
about a half inch from the end.
Female--The female of this species resembles the female of the
red-head very closely. It is considerable darker, however, and the
bill joins the head without the marked indentation seen in the
red-head.
=Nest and Eggs=--The nest and eggs are the same as the scaups.
=Measurements=--Total length, 17-1/2 inches; wing, 8, and bill, 2 inches.
[Illustration: RUDDY DUCK (Erismatura rubida)]