Harlequin Duck

Harlequin Duck, breeding male (left) and female (right); Ninilichik, AK

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1. Cool Facts
2. Description
3. Similar Species
4. Sound
5. Range
6. Habitat
7. Food
8. Behavior
9. Reproduction
10. Conservation Status
11. Other Names

A bird of fast-moving water, the Harlequin Duck breeds on fast-flowing streams and winters along rocky coastlines in the crashing surf.

Cool Facts

• More than half of eastern North American population of Harlequin Ducks winters in coastal Maine, particularly outer reaches of Penobscot and Jericho bays.

• When engaged in behavioral interactions, the Harlequin Duck gives distinctly unducklike squeaks, the source of one of its local names: sea mouse.

Description

• Size: 33-54 cm (13-21 in)
• Wingspan: 56-66 cm (22-26 in)
• Weight: 500-726 g (17.65-25.63 ounces)

Medium-sized diving duck. White patch in front of eyes. Round white ear spot. Male dark slate-blue with reddish brown sides and odd white patches and spots. Female dusky brown with two or three round white spots on head.

Sex Differences

Male boldly marked, female mostly dark brown with some white spots on head.

Male

Body plumage slate-blue; white bands and collars, bordered with black lines, on chest and neck; large white crescent in front of eye; small white circular patch near ear; white vertical stripe along side of neck; black streak, bordered by white and amber lines, on top of head; iridescent blue secondaries; rich dark slate-blue belly; chestnut-brown flanks.

Female

Brown body. White belly, with brown checks or spots. Round white spot behind ear. Faded variable white patches in front of eye. Occasionally white streaks on back of head.

Immature

Similar to adult female, but with darker belly.

Similar Species

• Female Bufflehead has one spot on face and extensive white in wings.
• Scoters are larger, have more sloped foreheads, and larger bills.

Sound

Call is distinctive mouselike squeak. Female makes coarse "ek-ek-ek."

Range

Range Map

© 2004 Cornell Lab of Ornithology

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Summer Range

Breeds from Alaska to northwestern Wyoming, and from northern Quebec and Labrador to northern New Brunswick. Also in Greenland, Iceland, and Siberia.

Winter Range

Winters along Pacific Coast from Alaska to northern California, and along Atlantic Coast from Newfoundland to New Jersey. Also in Greenland, Iceland, and along Pacific Coast southward to Japan.

Habitat

Mountain streams and rivers, usually in forested regions; in winter, primarily turbulent coastal waters, especially in rocky regions.

Food

Insects, fish, and marine invertebrates.

Behavior

Foraging

Dives for prey on or near bottom.

Reproduction

Egg Description

Pale creamy to pale buff.

Clutch Size

Condition at Hatching

Covered in down and able to leave the nest soon after hatching.

Conservation Status

Wintering populations in eastern North America are currently much smaller than historical (late 1800s) numbers, but populations grew in last part of 20th century. Listed as "Endangered" in Canada and "Threatened" in Maine. A "species of special concern" in western states.

Other Names

Arlequin plongeur, Canard arlequin, Canne de roche (French)

Sources used to construct this page:

Robertson, G. J., and R. I. Goudie. 1999. Harlequin Duck (Histrionicus histrionicus). In The Birds of North America, No. 466 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.