2015 Bonanza Bird #17: Harlequin Duck

December 17, 2015 in Birdorable Bonanza 2015, Ducks and New Birds with 10 comments

Our Birdorable Bonanza: 2015 Advent Edition continues today with a beautiful and colorful sea duck: the Harlequin Duck!

Harlequin Ducks are very beautiful sea ducks found along coastal waters across North America and eastern Asia. The species prefers fast-moving water and will frequently breed near fast-flowing streams.

The male Harlequin Duck has a striking plumage for which the species is named. Harlequin was a colorful masked character from an Italian style of improvisational comedy theater called "commedia dell'arte". Harlequin was a relatively late addition to the art form, and was popularized when the theater movement gained success in France.

The Harlequin Duck's colorful plumage gives it a lot of interesting alternative local names, including Painted Duck, Totem Pole Duck, White-eyed Diver, and Blue Streak. They have also earned the nicknames Sea Mouse and Squeaker from one of their more un-ducklike high-pitched vocalizations.

Harlequin Ducks feed by diving or by dabbling. They will take marine invertebrates, fish, and aquatic insects as prey. Algae and seeds may also be consumed.

Harlequin Duck by peggycadigan (CC BY 2.0)

Harlequin Duck by Matt Tillett (CC BY 2.0)

The Harlequin Duck is our 633rd Birdorable bird. Be sure to check out our collection of apparel and gifts featuring the Birdorable Harlequin Duck!

Our Bonanza continues tomorrow with the largest bird of prey of Australia. Can you guess tomorrow's species?

Comments

???c????? ????? (White-throated Sparrow) on December 17, 2015 at 3:23 PM wrote:

OMG it's so pretty :3 Probably some eagle...

Kyle on May 27, 2016 at 10:43 AM wrote:

I love this duck, is it single?

Kyle on May 27, 2016 at 10:52 AM wrote:

I wanna give this duck my dick

Louise Warner on February 27, 2017 at 6:30 PM wrote:

well we know it's an eagle...

Louise Warner on March 17, 2017 at 8:22 PM wrote:

um...

Louise Warner on March 29, 2017 at 6:16 PM wrote:

eagle

Harpy Eagle on July 3, 2017 at 3:09 AM wrote:

Wedge-tailed eagle P.S. I saw a female Harlequin duck once.

Heather Richards on April 18, 2018 at 8:25 PM wrote:

I love this duck so much. So cute. You say it was a sea-duck? So they should of called it a Sea-Quin Duck! Get it, sequin? I wear sequins all the time. I wanna take that duck home!

Andrew on November 4, 2018 at 1:29 AM wrote:

red and white black and stripes duck

Spurwing Plover on June 11, 2022 at 6:21 AM wrote:

No more of your Wise Quacks

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