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Harlequin Duck

Status Rare winter resident. Although widely distributed in small numbers from the lower Bay of Fundy around the coast to Cape Breton Island, its occurrence has been most regular at a few localities such as Brier Island; Port Hebert, Shelburne County; near Broad Cove, Lunenburg County; and Cranberry Head, Yarmouth County. The earliest fall occurrence was on 22 September and the latest in spring was on 16 May.

Description Length: 38-45 cm. Male: Mainly dark bluish gray (looks black at a distance), with contrasting spots and narrow patches of white, and rich chestnut flanks. Females: Dusky brown, with three round white spots on the side of the head; no white in the wing.

Range Breeds in central Quebec, Labrador, southern Baffin Island, Greenland and Iceland; in western North America from Alaska south, in the mountains, to central California. Also breeds in Siberia. In North America, winters on both coasts south to New York State and California.

Remarks Known widely as "lords and ladies," a name appropriately bestowed in an attempt to describe the elegance of the drake, these are perhaps the most beautiful of the sea ducks. Another local name is "rock duck," inspired by the bird's habit of feeding on inshore waters off rocky coastlines.