Harlequin Duck Histrionicus histrionicus Scientific name definitions

This sea duck occupies a niche that is unique among North American waterfowl. Along with the American Dipper (Cinclus mexicanus), the Harlequin Duck uses clear, fast-flowing rivers and streams for breeding and is able to move swiftly and with great agility in turbulent white water, diving to river bottoms to pick larval insects from rocky substrates. After breeding, individuals migrate to the coasts of North America and Greenland, where they occupy the shallow intertidal zones of rocky coastlines. They forage close to shore and consume a varied diet, including amphipods, snails, small crabs, barnacles, fish roe, and other small food items.

Males wear a striking breeding plumage that is slate blue with bold white, black, and chestnut markings. Their behavior is quite different from that of most other ducks. Harlequin Ducks squeak when engaged in behavioral interactions, a distinctly unducklike sound and the source of one of their local names, sea mice. Their ability to swim and feed among the boulders of a raging river is unmatched. In winter they are usually found close to shore, feeding in raging surf or loafing on rocks. They are relatively tame and can be approached closely in many areas. Their name derives from a character of traditional Italian comedy and pantomime, the harlequin, who appeared in costumes of multicolored triangular patches and displayed histrionics (tricks).

There are various serious threats to Harlequin Duck populations. Overhunting, disturbance, and habitat loss have likely played roles in declines in numbers. Until recently, little was known about the ecology of this species. This lack of knowledge has changed in the last 10 years, beginning with the 1990 listing of the East Coast population of Harlequin Ducks as Endangered in Canada. The historical population size of Harlequin Ducks on the East Coast of North America is under debate, but it was probably never large (<10,000), and the current wintering population is probably no greater than 1,500 birds. Research efforts have been launched on both coasts of North America to understand the life history, population status, and movements of many Harlequin Duck populations, including large-scale coordinated banding programs. Important studies on breeding ecology include Kuchel 1977 Kuchel, C. R. (1977). Some aspects of the behavior and ecology of Harlequin Ducks breeding in Glacier National Park, Montana. Master's Thesis, Univ. of Montana, Missoula. Close , Dzinbal 1982 Dzinbal, K. A. (1982). Ecology of Harlequin Ducks in Prince William Sound, Alaska, during summer. Master's Thesis, Oregon State Univ., Corvallis. Close , Wallen 1987 Wallen, R. L. (1987). Habitat utilization by Harlequin Ducks in Grand Teton National Park. Master's Thesis, Montana State Univ., Bozeman. Close , Crowley 1994a Crowley, D. W. (1994a). Breeding habitat of Harlequin Ducks in Prince William Sound, Alaska. Master's Thesis, Oregon State Univ., Corvallis. Close , Cassirer et al. 1996 Cassirer, E. F., J. D. Reichel, R. L. Wallen and E. C. Atkinson. (1996). Harlequin Duck (Histrionicus histrionicus) United States Forest Service/Bureau of Land Management habitat conservation assessment and conservation strategy for the U.S. Rocky Mountains. Boise: Idaho Dept. Fish Game. Close , Bruner 1997 Bruner, H. J. (1997). Habitat use and productivity in the central Cascade Range of Oregon. Master's Thesis, Oregon State Univ., Corvallis. Close , Maccallum and Bugera 1998 Maccallum, B. and M. Bugera. (1998). Harlequin Duck use of the McLeod River watershed. Hinton, AB: Bighorn Environ. Design. Close , and Smith Smith 1999a Smith, C. M. (1999a). Banff National Park Harlequin Duck research project: 1998 progress report. Banff, AB: Herit. Resour. Conserv., Parks Canada. Close , Smith 1999b Smith, C. M. (1999b). Harlequin Duck research in Kananaskis Country, Alberta, in 1998: Kananaskis River and Elbow River. Canmore: Alberta Environ. Protection. Close on the West Coast of North America and Brodeur et al. Brodeur et al. 1998 Brodeur, S., A. Bourget, P. Laporte, S. Marchant and G. Fitzgérald. (1998). Étude des déplacements du canard arlequin (Histrionicus histrionicus) en Gaspésie, Québec. Ste-Foy, QC: Can. Wildl. Serv., Québec Region. Close , Brodeur et al. 1999 Brodeur, S., M. Robert, P. Laporte, G. Fitzgérald and A. Bourget. (1999). Suivi satelllitaire des déplacements de Canards arlequins (Histrionicus histrionicus) nichant dans l'est de l'Amérique du Nord (1996-1998). Ste-Foy, QC: Can. Wildl. Serv., Québec Region. Close , Rodway Rodway 1998b Rodway, M. S. (1998b). Habitat use by Harlequin Ducks breeding in Hebron Fiord, Labrador. Canadian Journal of Zoology 76:897-901. Close , Rodway 1998a Rodway, M. S. (1998a). Activity patterns, diet, and feeding efficiency of Harlequin Ducks breeding in northern Labrador. Canadian Journal of Zoology 76:902-909. Close , and Rodway et al. 1998b Rodway, M. S., Jr. Gosse, J. W., I. Fong and W. A. Montevecchi. (1998b). Discovery of a Harlequin Duck nest in eastern North America. Wilson Bulletin 110:282-285. Close on the East Coast. Molting and wintering ecology have been examined extensively in British Columbia (Vermeer 1983a Vermeer, K. (1983a). Diet of the Harlequin Duck in the Strait of Georgia, British Columbia. Murrelet 64:54-57. Close , Savard 1988a Savard, J. P. L. (1988a). A summary of current knowledge on the distribution and abundance of moulting sea ducks in the coastal waters of British Columbia. Delta, BC: Can. Wildl. Serv., Pacific and Yukon Region. Close , Cooke et al. 1997 Cooke, F., G. J. Robertson, R. I. Goudie and W. S. Boyd. (1997). Molt and the basic plumage of male Harlequin Ducks. Condor 99:83-90. Close , Gowans et al. 1997 Gowans, B., G. J. Robertson and F. Cooke. (1997). Behaviour and chronology of pair formation by Harlequin Ducks Histrionicus histrionicus. Wildfowl 48:135-146. Close , Robertson et al. Robertson et al. 1997b Robertson, G. J., F. Cooke, R. I. Goudie and W. S. Boyd. (1997b). Estimating temporary emigration rates using supplementary information: an example with Harlequin Ducks. The Ring 19:169-178. Close , Robertson et al. 1997c Robertson, G. J., F. Cooke, R. I. Goudie and W. S. Boyd. (1997c). The timing of arrival and moult chronology of Harlequin Ducks Histrionicus histrionicus. Wildfowl 48:147-155. Close , Robertson et al. 1998a Robertson, G. J., F. Cooke, R. I. Goudie and W. S. Boyd. (1998a). Moult speed predicts pairing success in male Harlequin Ducks. Animal Behaviour 55:1677-1684. Close , Robertson et al. 1998b Robertson, G. J., F. Cooke, R. I. Goudie and W. S. Boyd. (1998b). The timing of pair formation in Harlequin Ducks. Condor 100:551-555. Close , Robertson et al. 1999 Robertson, G. J., F. Cooke, R. I. Goudie and W. S. Boyd. (1999). "Within-year fidelity of Harlequin Ducks to a moulting and wintering site." In Behaviour and ecology of sea ducks., edited by R. I. Goudie, M. R. Petersen and G. J. Robertson, 44-50. Ottawa: Can. Wildl. Serv. Occas. Pap. no. 100. Close , in press, Vermeer et al. 1997a Vermeer, K., M. Bentley, K. H. Morgan and G. E. J. Smith. (1997a). "Association of feeding flocks of Brant and sea ducks with herring spawn at Skidegate Inlet." In The ecology, status, and conservation of marine and shoreline birds of the Queen Charlotte Islands., edited by K. Vermeer and K. H. Morgan, 102-109. Ottawa: Can Wildl. Ser. Occas. Pap. no. 93. Close , Breault and Savard 1999 Breault, A. and J. P. L. Savard. (1999). "Philopatry in Harlequin Ducks molting in southern British Columbia." In Behaviour and ecology of sea ducks., edited by R. I. Goudie, M. R. Petersen and G. J. Robertson, 40-43. Ottawa: Can. Wildl. Serv. Occas. Pap. no. 100. Close , Goudie 1999 Goudie, R. I. (1999). "Behaviour of Harlequin Ducks and three species of scoters wintering in the Queen Charlotte Islands, British Columbia." In Behaviour and ecology of sea ducks., edited by R. I. Goudie, M. R. Petersen and G. J. Robertson, 6-13. Ottawa: Can. Wildl. Serv. Occas. Pap. no. 100. Close ) and in Newfoundland (Goudie and Ankney Goudie and Ankney 1986 Goudie, R. I. and C. D. Ankney. (1986). Body size, activity budgets, and diets of sea ducks wintering in Newfoundland. Ecology 67:1475-1482. Close , Goudie and Ankney 1988 Goudie, R. I. and C. D. Ankney. (1988). Patterns of habitat use by sea ducks wintering in southeastern Newfoundland. Ornis Scandinavica 19:249-256. Close ). Migration routes have been established by satellite telemetry (Brodeur et al. Brodeur et al. 1998 Brodeur, S., A. Bourget, P. Laporte, S. Marchant and G. Fitzgérald. (1998). Étude des déplacements du canard arlequin (Histrionicus histrionicus) en Gaspésie, Québec. Ste-Foy, QC: Can. Wildl. Serv., Québec Region. Close , Brodeur et al. 1999 Brodeur, S., M. Robert, P. Laporte, G. Fitzgérald and A. Bourget. (1999). Suivi satelllitaire des déplacements de Canards arlequins (Histrionicus histrionicus) nichant dans l'est de l'Amérique du Nord (1996-1998). Ste-Foy, QC: Can. Wildl. Serv., Québec Region. Close ). It is hoped that this research effort will help provide the information needed to better conserve this engaging species in the future.