RCB40 2 Posted February 23 Share Posted February 23 The white flanks on this female Ring-necked Duck seems unusual to me. I would expect brown flanks on a female RNDU. Is this a common variation of this species? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Seanbirds 713 Posted February 23 Share Posted February 23 This is a female Ring-necked Duck. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Avery 1,073 Posted February 23 Share Posted February 23 Not sure whether it’s a normal hen or not. Above my paygrade... 😉 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Seanbirds 713 Posted February 23 Share Posted February 23 Just now, Avery said: Not sure whether it’s a normal hen or not. Above my paygrade... 😉 Pretty sure on both. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jefferson Shank 2,036 Posted February 23 Share Posted February 23 This is a female Ring-necked Duck. Yep. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Colton V 641 Posted February 23 Share Posted February 23 To me it looks like the feathers are ruffled, exposing the white feathers underneath. I think it's a normal female. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Charlie Spencer 3,413 Posted February 24 Share Posted February 24 33 minutes ago, Colton V said: To me it looks like the feathers are ruffled, exposing the white feathers underneath. I think it's a normal female. Toss in some strong light. Agreed. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tony Leukering 2,565 Posted February 24 Share Posted February 24 1 hour ago, Seanbirds said: This is a female Ring-necked Duck. Are you sure? It's certainly an immature and it's getting quite late in the season for first-cyclish Aythya to be still in formative plumage, but.... 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Seanbirds 713 Posted February 24 Share Posted February 24 20 minutes ago, Tony Leukering said: Are you sure? It's certainly an immature and it's getting quite late in the season for first-cyclish Aythya to be still in formative plumage, but.... OK, I should have said female/immature. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tony Leukering 2,565 Posted February 24 Share Posted February 24 Just now, Seanbirds said: OK, I should have said female/immature. That implies a dichotomy that may not exist, as eye color proves that it's an immature. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RCB40 2 Posted February 24 Author Share Posted February 24 Just trying to learn here. Perhaps I should have included this photo. From the photo it doesn't look like it is just a case of wind ruffling the feathers. I'm not familia with immature RNDU, but my sense from the comments that this is an immature female, but the flank color seems like what Cornell's Birds of the World describe as "flanks pale silver gray to pale buffy brown" for juvenile plumage. What are the characteristics of formative plumage for female RNDU's. I'm assuming the the red eye color is only present in immatures, something I haven't seen referenced before. Thanks for the discussion. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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