#histrionicus histrionicus

[birdblues]

Harlequin Duck

[podartists]

Histrionicus histrionicus (1929-1932) | Allan Brooks (canadiano, 1869-1946)

[herpsandbirds]

Do you have more pictures of harlequin ducks? I love them

This really is one of my favorite ducks:

The first time I saw Harlequin Ducks was on the beach at Wellfleet Bay, Cape Cod, MA. It was 24 deg F, and the wind was blowing hard. It was hell, but it was worth it when I finally found the HDs in my spotting scope.

Harlequin Duck (Histrionicus histrionicus), male, family Anatidae, order Anseriformes, New Jersey, USA

photograph by MattSullivan

Harlequin Duck (Histrionicus histrionicus), male, far northern United States

photograph by Jacob W. Frank / NPS

Harlequin Duck (Histrionicus histrionicus), T - female, B - male, NJ, USA

photograph by Peggy Cadigan

Harlequin Duck (Histrionicus histrionicus), males, OR, USA

photograph by Keith Kohl, ODFW

[riverwindphotography]

A young Harlequin duck, (Histrionicus histrionicus), practices its feeding skills in the rushing waters of the Yellowstone River, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

(c) riverwindphotography, September 2023

[dougdimmadodo]

Harlequin Duck (Histrionicus histrionicus)

Family: Duck Family (Anatidae)

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

This small, rotund species of duck is most often seen in oceans off the coast of eastern Eurasia and western North America (with smaller populations off North America's eastern coast,) but migrates inland during around April to breed and nest near cold, fast-moving rivers and streams. Pockets of air trapped in a Harlequin Duck's feathers provide insulation and make it extremely buoyant even by the standards of other ducks, allowing it to safely float on the surface of choppy water and quickly re-surface after diving for prey (feeding mostly on crustaceans and molluscs while at sea but taking aquatic insects as prey when in freshwater.) Like many waterfowl adults of this species are loosely monogamous and re-unite every year to mate, although its not uncommon for one or both partners to also seek out other mates after pairing and even "divorce" their partner upon finding a preferred mate. Female Harlequin Ducks (which are a dusty brown colour) build their nests along the banks of the fast-flowing streams they favour and typically incubate their eggs and raise their chicks alone, but on occasion the more flashily coloured males may also contribute to the early care of their young.

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Image Source: Here

[typhlonectes]

Harlequin Duck Histrionicus histrionicus

In winter, Harlequin ducks are found almost exclusively on rocky coastal shorelines. In this habitat they feed on crabs, barnacles, mussels, and snails.

photographs by Bob Wick/BLM & National Park Service

via:  USFWS Waterfowl Working Group

[sumbluespruce]

Hen and Drake Harlequin ducks  (Histrionicus histrionicus)

5/13/23

[acarinarium]

Animal spotlight!

Starting off with a personal favourite, we have the cloak-and-dagger bees, genus Thyreus! I'd love to say they're my favourites because they're exceptionally interesting but it is mainly because I find them very cute and beautiful :3 I am not immune. Thyreus histrionicus (David Marquina Reyes) and Thyreus himalayensis (marcelfinlay on iNaturalist)

They are kleptoparasites, meaning that they lay their eggs in other bees' nests so their larvae can feed on pollen collected for the host's larvae, much like a cuckoo (lending various kleptoparasitic bees the title of cuckoo bees). They also often kill and eat their new nestmates.

One of my favourite things about them is their roosting behaviour. They sleep attached to twigs or dead plants by the mandibles! This isn't exclusive to the genus, many solitary bees sleep this way, particularly males. Here, two histrionic cloak-and-dagger bees can be seen roosting alongside some white-banded digger bees, Amegilla quadrifasciata (a species that they parasitise!). Image by David Marquina Reyes

And here is an articulated nomad bee (Nomada articulata, another cuckoo bee) doing the same! Image by jerremie on iNaturalist

[dawnsiren]

Would also like to add to this list

Black-billed magpie (Pica hudsonia)

American Avocet (Recurvirostra americana)

Harlequin duck (Histrionicus histrionicus)

Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)

Vermillion Flycatcher (Pyrocephalus rubinus)

Cedar waxwing (Bombycilia cedrorum)

Eastern Bluebird (Sialis sialis)

Grey-crowned rosy finch (Leucosticte tephrocotis)

And SO MANY MORE but if I really tried we’d be here all day lmao. Look into Hawaiian birds in particular they have/had some cool stuff

it irritates me to no end when people say north american birds are dull in comparison to other countries’ birds

blue jay

american kestrel

painted bunting

yellow-throated vireo

cerulean warbler

baltimore oriole

american goldfinch

northern cardinal

x

[birdblues]

Harlequin Duck

[herpsandbirds]

Harlequin Duck (Histrionicus histrionicus), male, family Anatidae, order Anseriformes, off the coast of NJ, USA

Photograph via: Hidden New Jersey

[crudlynaturephotos]

[butoridesvirescens]

I love the concept but I think we can do better with the execution. I’m limiting to North American species. I may utilize some geese and swans just to make it more fun.

Starting off strong we have Baron Bon Steuben.

The King Eider (Somateria spectabilis). He’s colorful and a bit camp but also a badass little man.

George Washington is an American Wigeon (Anas Americana).

Thomas Jefferson is a Cinnamon Teal (Anas Cyanoptera)

Seems shady. 10/10 don’t trust.

John Adams is a Gadwall (Anas strepera).

It’s just a good plain duck.

John Paul Jones is a Harlequin duck (Histrionicus histrionicus) because it’s a badass sea duck.

Francis Marion is obviously a wood duck (Aix sponsa)

Nathaniel Greene is a Green Winged Teal (Ana’s crecca)

Casimir Pulaski is a Long-tailed duck (Clangula hyemalis)

(Smol man)

Speaking of which James Madison has to be a bufflehead (Bucephala albeola )

Benjamin Franklin is a Surf Scoter (Melanitta perspicillata)

I could do more but I might not be able to stop myself. I’d love to see what people come up with.

founding fathers as ducks because I am bored

Thomas Jefferson

James Madison

Aaron Burr

George Washington

Alexander Hamilton

John Adams

[riverwindphotography]

A female Harlequin duck, (Histrionicus histrionicus), relaxes alongside the Yellowstone River, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

(c) riverwindphotography, September 2023

[maritimeorca]

From the archives Via Flickr: Harlequin Ducks (Histrionicus histrionicus) at Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge