Sounds like a Northern Flicker. One just visited me yesterday on Eastern Long Island, NY.
What Kind Of Bird Is Black With Red Around It's Neck?
I just saw a brown bird the size of a dove with a red ring around the neck. The bird has a rather long, curved dark beak and was traveling with a male robin. It was feeding from the ground. We live in VT and it is 9/16/2010.
I have the same question. Where did you see it? I saw one like that several years ago in coastal South Carolina. I have been trying to find out what kind of bird it was since then.