ring-neck

A ring-neck swims in a calm pond.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A bird with a distinctive band of color around its neck: "ring-neck" refers to various bird species, such as the ring-necked duck or ring-necked pheasant, characterized by a colored ring or band encircling the neck.
   • Specifically, a type of duck: In ornithology, "ring-neck" is often used as a shortened form for the ring-necked duck (Aythya collaris), a diving duck with a subtle brownish ring around the neck.
   • A type of plover: It can also refer to the ring-necked plover (Charadrius hiaticula), a small shorebird with a black band across the neck.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The ring-neck was spotted near the marsh this morning. (A ring-necked bird, likely a duck, was seen in the wetland area.)
  • Hunters often seek the ring-neck for its game value. (Hunters pursue ring-necked birds, such as pheasants or ducks, for sport or food.)
  • We identified the bird as a ring-neck by its distinctive collar. (We recognized the bird species because of the colored ring around its neck.)

Advanced Usage

• "Ring-neck" as a compound modifier: In ornithology, "ring-neck" is frequently combined with other terms to specify species, but note that the base word "ring-neck" alone refers to the bird itself.
  • The ring-neck's plumage is more subtle than other ducks. (The feather pattern of the ring-necked bird is less conspicuous than that of related species.)

Variants and Related Words

• Ring-necked (adj): having a ring or band of color around the neck.

  • The ring-necked pheasant is a popular game bird. (The pheasant species with a white neck ring is hunted for sport.)

• Neck ring (n): a band or ring worn around the neck, or a natural marking resembling such a band.

  • The bird's neck ring was barely visible in dim light. (The colored band around the bird's neck was hard to see in poor lighting.)

Synonyms

• Collar-necked bird: a bird with a distinct ring or collar around its neck.

  • The collared dove is similar to the ring-neck in appearance. (The dove with a neck band resembles the ring-necked bird.)

• Banded-neck bird: a bird with a band of color around the neck.

  • The banded-neck plover is another name for the ring-neck. (The shorebird with a neck band is alternatively called a ring-neck.)

Related Idioms

• "Ring-neck" in hunting slang: used informally to refer to any game bird with a neck ring, especially pheasants.
  • We bagged three ring-necks during the hunt. (We caught three ring-necked pheasants while hunting.)