ring-necked

[ ring-nekt ]

adjective

, Zoology.

1. having a ring of distinctive color around the neck.

ring-necked

adjective

1. (of animals, esp certain birds and snakes) having a band of distinctive colour around the neck

Word History and Origins

Origin of ring-necked¹

First recorded in 1850–55

Example Sentences

“Prominent feature” names seem to be the most popular because they help birders make an identification, but species like Red-bellied Woodpecker and Ring-necked Duck, whose identifying marks are almost impossible to see if you’re not holding the bird in your hand, have long been a source of annoyance for birders.

From Slate

Caleb discovered the ring-necked parakeets in the summer of 2020 at his local park.

From BBC

At Morriston Park in Swansea, near his home, the then nine-year-old ticked off sparrows, starlings, blue tits…but surely not a ring-necked parakeet, external?

From BBC

Look for the northern shoveler, the ring-necked duck and the gadwall.

From New York Times

Look for the northern shoveler, the ring-necked duck and the gadwall.

From New York Times