Harlequin Duck

Harlequin Duck males on the north Puget Sound, a fairly common winter sighting.

Harlequin Ducks Histrionicus histrionicus is a diving duck that is most often found in areas with fairly fast moving water. THey breed in fast moving rivers, but are more often seen by birders on on their wintering territory. Around western Washington, where I live, this usually on salt water near rocky shores where tidal water movement simulates the rivers where they breed. Last week I was lucky enough to see a female at Longmire Mt. Rainier where she was swimming upstream, almost unbelievably, against a raging river current, feeding under the water as she went.

As you can see the female is quite drab in comparison to the male. It seems the gaudy plumage of the male gives origin to the Latin scientific name.

If you didn't know they were male and female of the same species it would be easy to not recognize the female.

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