Ring-necked Duck
Aythya collaris (Donovan, 1809) (0, 2)
Photo © KG Webb - Abbey Pool, Tresco, 14 April 2024
Ex BBRC species 31/12/1993
STATUS
Nearctic. Monotypic.
OVERVIEW
The first record was seen by Britain's most eminent wildfowl expert, whilst the second record only came to light 51 years after the event. Records prior to 1958 are at the discretion of local county recorders.
1950-57 RECORDS
1). 1955 Gloucestershire Slimbridge, adult male, 12th to 14th March.
(P. Scott, British Birds 48: 377; P. Scott, British Birds 48: 377-378; BOURC (1957), Ibis 100: 299; Swaine, 1982).
History Philippa Scott (1955) in British Birds Vol. XLVIII. p. 377, says: 'On the afternoon of 12th March 1955, while sitting in the studio of my house at the Wildfowl Trust, Slimbridge, Gloucestershire, I saw an adult male Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris) settle on the pond about 15 yards from the window. On the following afternoon the bird reappeared and was watched by my husband, Peter Scott, and by Hugh Boyd. On the morning of 14th March it was seen in flight over the Orchard Pen, but it did not return after that. We later learnt that the bird was also seen on 12th March by Bernard King. Its rapid departure was not anticipated and so unfortunately no photographs were taken.
The possibility that this bird was an escape is very remote. The species is so rare in captivity that no one keeping them would allow their specimens to fly and young have never, so far as is known, been successfully reared in any collection in Europe.
It seems far more probable that the bird was a genuine straggler which had made the passage from eastern North America.
Although it is the first authenticated record of the Ring-necked Duck in Europe, the species was originally described by Donovan from a male 'exposed for sale in Leadenhall Market, London' in January 1801 and said to have been taken in the fens of Lincolnshire.
It is not clear why this early record has never been accepted, as, at that date, it seems very unlikely that it could have been an escape. Ring-necks may well have been overlooked during the intervening 150 years.'
Peter Scott (1955) in British Birds Vol. XLVIII. pp. 377-378, says: 'The Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris) at Slimbridge was a drake in full plumage, exactly resembling the single captive drake in the Wildfowl Trust's collection, except that it was full-winged instead of being pinioned.
The bird was observed in front of my studio window at ranges down to 10 yards, so that all specific characters given below were clearly observable. On the second afternoon it was last seen swimming with tame Tufted Ducks (A. fuligula) and Scaups (A. marila).
The drake Ring-neck has the same basic pattern as the Tufted, but the "panel" of the flanks comes to a white peak at the forward end and shades to a soft vermiculated grey at the after end. There is no crest, but the head has a rather high crown, and round the neck is the dark chestnut ring which gives the bird its name. In the field this character is hard to see; much more prominent is the whitish subterminal band across the bill, and the whitish line across the base of it which follows the edge of the feathering.'
Admitted nationally as the first for Britain (BOURC (1957) Ibis 100: 299).
2). 1957 Lancashire & North Merseyside Knowsley Park, male, 14th May.
(K. G. Spencer, Report on Birds, Lancashire 1957: 40; White, McCarthy & Jones, 2008).
History K. G. Spencer (1957) in the Report on Birds, Lancashire, p. 40, says: 'A drake at Knowsley Park, 14 May, in company with a pair of Tufted Ducks (C.F.). A full description has been submitted to Messrs. Wagstaffe, Ferguson-Lees, Peter Scott and Hugh Boyd.'
White, McCarthy & Jones (2008: 37) say: 'A male was seen by Chris Felton at Knowsley Park on 14th May 1957; it was with a pair of Tufted Ducks.'
NOT PROVEN
0). 1801 Lincolnshire No locality, male, obtained, January.
(Donovan, 1794-1819; J. J. Dalgleish, Bulletin of Nuttall Ornithological Club 5: 213; O. V. Aplin, Zoologist 1901: 476-477).
[BOU, 1971].
History Donovan (1816 (6): 148-149) under 'Collared Duck', says: 'A specimen of this curious Duck occurred to us in the month of January, 1801, among a number of other wild fowl exposed for sale in Leadenhall-market, London; and so far as we have been hitherto able to determine, it appears to be not only new as a British bird, but altogether undescribed.
Its size rather exceeds that of the Common Widgeon. The colour above is blackish, as is likewise the head and neck, the former of which is richly glossed with purple and green, and the latter surrounded in the middle with a pretty and very distinct collar of deep ferruginous: the lower part of the throat, and upper part of the breast, are black; the belly white, mottled with dusky towards the posterior end, and in the region of the vent deep fuscous. The bill and legs dusky.
This bird is certainly of the male sex, and is supposed to have been taken in the fens of Lincolnshire.'
J. J. Dalgleish (1880) in the Bulletin of Nuttall Ornithological Club, Vol. V. p. 213, says: 'One, obtained in Leadenhall Market, London. Donovan, Br. B., VI. pl. 147. (Gurney, Zool., 1877, p. 341.) 1801.'
O. V. Aplin of Bloxham, Oxon (1901) in The Zoologist, 4th series, Vol. V. pp. 476-477, says: 'I cannot understand why the Ring-necked or Collared Duck should, by almost universal custom, be excluded from the number of accidental visitors on the list of British Birds.
Donovan in his Natural History of British Birds (Vol. VI. 1809 [sic]), states that a specimen occurred to him in the month of January, 1801, among a number of wildfowl exposed for sale in Leadenhall Market. It was a male, and was supposed to have been taken in the fens of Lincolnshire.
More than one species (e.g. the American Wigeon) has been admitted into the British list on claims no stronger than this. We may safely assume that a hundred years ago no wildfowl came imported for the table into London market from the other side of the Atlantic.
There can be no question about the bird having been correctly identified, for we have Donovan's coloured plate (No. 147) of this handsome Duck to refer to.
The Ring-necked Duck was at that date not merely a new British bird, but altogether undescribed. Donovan was accordingly the original describer of this species, and the name he then bestowed upon it still stands. Fuligula collaris (Donovan) is its name in the new Hand-list of Birds. This Duck, therefore, like Botaurus lentiginosus, is an American species first described from an example which had accidentally occurred in Europe.
The Ring-necked Duck has a wide distribution, and ranges, according to Dr. Elliott (The Wildfowl of North America), over the whole of North America, from the Arctic Sea to Guatemala and the West Indies.'
Comment Not admitted nationally (BOU 1971). Uncertainty regarding where it was captured; even Donovan said supposed. Not acceptable.
