From Opus

Aythya collaris

Photo by Leslie
Location Oak Park, CA

[edit] Identification

[edit] Male

• Grey bill with white band
• Shiny purple head
• White breast
• Yellow eyes
• Dark grey back
• White "spur" between breast and sides

[edit] Female

• Pale brown head and body
• Dark brown back
• Dark bill with more subtle light band
• Brown eyes

Grey bill with a white band, a shiny purple head, a white breast, yellow eyes and a dark grey back. The adult female has a pale brown head and body with a dark brown back, a dark bill with a more subtle light band than the male and brown eyes.

[edit] Distribution

Northern United States and Canada.

[edit] Taxonomy

[edit] Habitat

Wooded lakes, rivers and ponds.

[edit] Behaviour

[edit] Diet

Includes aquatic plants, molluscs, aquatic insects and small fish.

[edit] Breeding

The nest is bowl-shaped, built with aquatic vegetation and lined with down, in a dry location near open water. The female lays 8 to 10 eggs.

[edit] External Links