It’s so much fun to go birding here on Cape Cod in the winter. You never know what you will see or where you will see it. (Click on blog link for other photo.)
There were quite a few birds swimming around at Herring Pond the other day. I always love the Ring-necked Ducks. They look like they should be called “Ring-billed Ducks” instead as their ring is around their bill and not their neck.
The Ring-necked Ducks are not like dabbling ducks… they dive to eat submerged plants and aquatic invertebrates.
Distinctive eye color: the male iris is yellow and the female iris is brown, according to Ducks Unlimited. I’m guessing the ducks in these photos are male.
https://www.ducks.org/hunting/waterfowl-id/ring-necked-duck#:~:text=The%20legs%20and%20feet%20are,the%20back%20of%20the%20head.