Harlequin duck (Histrionicus histrionicus)

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The harlequin duck, a sea duck, occupies a niche that is unique among North American waterfowl. It 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. This species account for the harlequin duck provides the known life history information for the species, including distribution, systematics, migration, habitat, sounds, behavior, and breeding. Research efforts, including large-scale coordinated banding programs, have been launched on both coasts of North America to understand the breeding ecology, population status, and movements of many harlequin duck populations. Migration routes have been established by satellite telemetry. It is hoped that these research efforts will help provide the information needed to better conserve this engaging species into the future.

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Full Citation: Robertson, G. J., and R. I. Goudie. 1999. Harlequin duck (Histrionicus histrionicus). No. 466 in: The Birds of North America: life histories for the 21st century. Alan Poole and F. Gill, editors. Philadelphia: The Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia and the American Ornithologists' Union. 32 pp.

Location: Wildlife Bureau Reference Shelves

See also: W99ROB01IDUS; this species account has become a living one at http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/466/, where changes, additions, revisions can be made at any time.