Harlequin duck
This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (February 2010) |
Harlequin duck | |
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Adult drake | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Anseriformes |
Family: | Anatidae |
Genus: | Histrionicus Lesson , 1828
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Species: | H. histrionicus
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Binomial name | |
Histrionicus histrionicus | |
Subspecies | |
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Synonyms | |
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The harlequin duck (Histrionicus histrionicus) is a small
Taxonomy
In 1747 the English naturalist
Two prehistoric harlequin ducks have been described from
Description
Adult breeding males have a colorful and complex plumage pattern. The head and neck are dark slate blue with a large white crescent marking in front of the eye that extends up to the crest, a small round dot behind the eye, and a larger oval spot down the side of the neck. A black crown stripe runs over the top of the head, with chestnut patches on either side. A black-bordered white collar separates the head from the breast. The body is largely a lighter slate blue with chestnut sides. A black-bordered white bar divides the breast vertically from the sides. The tail is black, long and pointed. The speculum is metallic blue. The inner secondary feathers are white and form white markings over the back when folded. The bill is blue-grey and the eye is reddish. Adult females are less colourful, with brownish-grey plumage with three white patches on the head: a round spot behind the eye, a larger patch from the eye to the bill and a small spot above the eye.[7]
Standard Measurements[7][8] | |
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length | 15–17 in (380–430 mm) |
weight | 600 g (1.3 lb) |
wingspan | 26 in (660 mm) |
wing | 188–202 mm (7.4–8.0 in) |
tail | 77–101.5 mm (3.03–4.00 in) |
culmen | 25–27 mm (0.98–1.06 in) |
tarsus | 36.5–38.5 mm (1.44–1.52 in) |
Distribution and habitat
Their breeding habitat is cold fast moving streams in north-western and north-eastern North America, Greenland, Iceland and eastern Russia. The nest is usually located in a well-concealed location on the ground near a stream. They are usually found near pounding surf and white water. They are short distance migrants and most winter near rocky shorelines on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. They are very rare migrants to western Europe.
The eastern North American population is declining and is considered endangered. Possible causes include loss of habitat due to
Behaviour
These
Breeding
Harlequin ducks adhere to a monogamous mating system, during their winter mating season will form multi-year pair bonds, though the males rarely participate in paternal care. Young ducks begin courtship in their first winter, females will find success by the second year, yet the males will rarely form a persistent bond before their fourth winter. Harlequin males will have an alternate plumage during this winter mating season.
Both female and male harlequins exercise mate choice preference and pair-bond defense, to demonstrate fidelity to their partner. Either partner is able to divorce the pair-bond to pursue a higher-quality option, however this behavior is uncommon.[9]
References
- . Retrieved 13 November 2021.
- ^ Edwards, George (1747). A Natural History of Uncommon Birds. Vol. Part II. London: Printed for the author at the College of Physicians. p. 99, Plate 99.
- ^ Linnaeus, Carl (1758). Systema Naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis (in Latin). Vol. 1 (10th ed.). Holmiae (Stockholm): Laurentii Salvii. p. 127.
- ^ Lesson, René P. (1828). Manuel d'ornithologie, ou Description des genres et des principales espèces d'oiseaux (in French). Vol. 2. Paris: Roret. p. 415.
- ^ Rasmussen, Pamela, eds. (July 2021). "Screamers, ducks, geese & swans". IOC World Bird List Version 11.2. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
- ISBN 978-1-4081-2501-4.
- ^ a b Godfrey, W. Earl (1966). The Birds of Canada. Ottawa: National Museum of Canada. p. 73.
- ISBN 0-679-45122-6.
- ^ Rodway, Michael S. “Pair-Bond Defense Relates to Mate Quality in Harlequin Ducks (Histrionicus Histrionicus).” Waterbirds: The International Journal of Waterbird Biology, vol. 36, no. 2, 2013, pp. 189–198., www.jstor.org/stable/24641582. Accessed 18 Apr. 2020.
External links
- Toughest of Birds, Dressed Up as a Clown article at Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center
- Harlequin Duck Species Account – Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Harlequin Duck - Histrionicus histrionicus - USGS Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter
- eNature.com – Harlequin Duck
- Harlequin Duck Population Monitoring in the Strait of Georgia, British Columbia
- Harlequin Duck, Histrionicus histrionicus Archived 2012-03-03 at the Wayback Machine at Canada's Polar Life (University of Guelph) Archived 2017-10-05 at the Wayback Machine
- Harlequin Duck: Wildlife Notebook Series from Alaska Department of Fish and Game
- BirdLife species factsheet for Histrionicus histrionicus
- "Harlequin duck media". Internet Bird Collection.
- Harlequin duck photo gallery at VIREO (Drexel University)
- Interactive range map of Histrionicus histrionicus at IUCN Red List maps
- Audio recordings of Harlequin duck on Xeno-canto.