"The most striking field marks are a broad while ring around the bill, another thin white line at the base, and a white crescent at the waterline that separates the black breast and pale gray sides. The female is brown with a white eye-ring and whitish mottling on the face. Both sexes have rather triangular peaked heads ... They migrate throughout much of Texas. Wintering populations are largest along the coast but range locally inland except in the Panhandle ... ring-necks seem to prefer more secluded niches on freshwater ponds and in the coastal marshes. They are most likely to be seen on woodland ponds and small lakes."

Photo taken with a Nikon D70 using a Nikon 300mm f/4.5.

January 21, 2006