HUNTING HORIZONS - Worldwide Hunting Seasons Database

The Harlequin Duck, [Histrionicus histrionicus], in North America Lords and Ladies, breeds in north western and north eastern North America, Greenland, Iceland, western Russia, Siberia and north eastern Asia. They are short distance migrants and most winter near rocky shorelines on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of America. In winter they reach Britain, occasionally west and central Europe, eastern China, Korea and Japan.
Found in pairs, small groups or in flocks of up to 50 birds outside breeding season.

LENGTH: 36-51 cm
WEIGHT: 450-680 g
WINGSPAN: 61-70 cm
Both adults have a white ear patch; when this species moults it is hard to distinguish between the sexes.

MALE: Adult males are slate blue grey with chestnut flanks and distinctive white markings on the head including a white crescent at the base of the bill, these white patches are outlined with black.

FEMALE: Adult females are less colourful, with brownish grey plumage and a white patch on the head around each eye.

JUVENILE: Similar to female but browner, and lacks blue sheen to secondaries.

HABITAT: They are usually found near pounding surf and white water. During the breeding season they live along fast flowing, cold streams and rivers in rocky terrain with plenty of vegetation, such as trees, as high as 3,400 metres above sea level. In winter locations they feed and rest in large lakes, shallow shore waters and rocky coastlines.

FEEDING: These birds feed by swimming under water or diving, sometimes dabbling. They eat molluscs, crustaceans, insects, worms and small fish.

CALL: Generally silent.

FLIGHT: Rapid direct flight, often low over the water. In flight males show white on their wings with a metallic blue speculum; females have no white on their wings in flight and no speculum.
Harlequins have densely packed feathers that trap a lot of air; this also makes them exceptionally buoyant, bouncing like corks after dives.