Although the rings on the bills of the Ring-necked Ducks (Aythya collaris) are very distinctive, it is their beautiful eyes that really draw me in, whether it be the startlingly yellow eyes of the male or the more subtle brown eyes of the female.
I never see these ducks in the ponds of my local marshland park, but each winter over the past few years, I have seen them in a small water retention pond in the middle of a suburban townhouse community near where I live.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
Amazing eyes, you are correct. Beautiful bird.
Interesting beak markings, too! 🙂
I’m always curious about how things like color benefits an animal. In this case I’m guessing that attracting a mate would be the driving force.
Funny that they would shun a natural pond in favor of a man made one.
I agree with your assessment of these eyes as an main attraction – great images of these beauties!
Those are beauties.