6 Stunning Ducks With White Ring Around their Necks
Ducks tend to be more unique than we give them credit for, especially if we don’t take the time to really look at them. One cool feature I’ve come to notice over the years of watching and learning about ducks is how some of them wear what looks like a perfect white necklace — a bright ring around the neck that adds a touch of charm and elegance. These rings can be bold and obvious, or faint and subtle, but they always make the bird stand out once you spot them. So, which duck species have this beautiful feature? Well, here are a few I’ve come across that proudly show off their white neck rings.
1. Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
The first duck that often comes to mind when we talk about ducks with white rings around their necks is the Mallard. It’s one of the most familiar and easy-to-spot ducks in the world.
The male Mallard wears that neat white ring like a collar, setting off his shiny green head and rich chestnut chest. It’s a look that makes him instantly recognizable, even from a distance. The female doesn’t have the bright colors — she’s dressed in soft brown feathers that help her stay hidden while nesting.
Mallards are friendly and adaptable, happily swimming in park ponds, rivers, and wetlands. If you ever see that sparkle of green and the clear white neck ring catching the sunlight, there’s a good chance you’ve just met this classic and beloved duck.
2. Australian Shelduck (Tadorna tadornoides)
The Australian Shelduck is a large, proud-looking duck that stands tall and carries itself with confidence.
The male has a glossy black-green head and a neat white ring around the neck that really stands out against its dark feathers. This white ring is one of its key features and makes it quite easy to spot, especially in bright light. The female looks similar but has a white eye ring and chestnut tones on her breast.
These ducks prefer quiet freshwater areas but are never too far from a drink of fresh water, even when they wander near the coast.
3. Wood Duck (Aix sponsa)
The Wood Duck is one of the most beautiful ducks you’ll ever see. The male’s white neck ring curves gracefully down and back, forming fine white lines across its colorful green, purple, and chestnut face.
The female, though not as bright, has a soft brown color with a white eye ring and gentle markings.
Both have a small crest at the back of the head.
Wood Ducks like wooded ponds and rivers, often nesting in tree holes. If you ever see one gliding on calm water, that bold white ring and shining feathers are sure to catch your eye.
4. Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator)
The Red-breasted Merganser has a sharp, elegant look, and the white ring around its neck adds to that.
The male has a white ring around its neck that separates the dark green head from the reddish-brown chest, along with red eyes and a spiky crest that make it stand out. The female is mostly grayish-brown with a rusty-colored head and a shorter crest, giving her a softer, plainer look.
These ducks are expert fishers — they dive under the water using their long, thin, serrated bills to catch fish.
You’ll find them on lakes, rivers, and coastal waters, often zipping across the water’s surface before diving down. Their speed, wild crest, and that clear white neck ring make them one of the most dramatic ducks to watch.
5. Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula)
When the sun catches its face just right, the Common Goldeneye reveals one of its more understated but striking details — a faint white collar at the base of the neck, like a soft shimmer separating its glossy green-black head from the clean white of its breast.
It’s not as bold as the Mallard’s ring, but it’s there — a subtle accent for a duck that already stands out with its golden eyes and crisp plumage.
Goldeneyes are bold, fast-flying divers that thrive in northern lakes and rivers.
The males are sleek and powerful, known for their sharp whistling wings and assertive personalities. During courtship, they put on quite a performance — tossing their heads back dramatically and calling out to impress nearby females.
Females, with their rich brown heads and gray bodies, are less flashy but every bit as graceful.
Together, they’re a favorite sight among birders who know to look for that glint of gold in the eye and the quick flash of black and white over the water.
6. Bronze-winged Duck (Speculanas specularis)
Down in the wetlands and rivers of southern Chile and central Argentina lives a duck that truly earns its name — the Bronze-winged Duck.
At first glance, it may seem quietly colored in browns and greys, but when sunlight hits its wings, an iridescent purple-bronze sheen glows across the feathers, giving it a rare beauty.
Both males and females share the same markings — a dark brown head, a neat white patch between the eye and bill, and a soft white band around the throat and neck.
These ducks favor calm, wooded wetlands, where they forage for seeds, aquatic plants, and the occasional insect.
They’re often seen quietly paddling in pairs or small groups, blending in with their surroundings until that flash of bronze catches the light — a momentary reminder that even the most modest colors can hide something extraordinary.