Photo: Peter Massas / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Least Concern

Waterbirds

Harlequin Duck

Histrionicus histrionicus

Harlequin Duck (Histrionicus histrionicus) — Ducks, Geese & Swans of North America.

Field guide · LocationsWhere to see this bird

Found across 20 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.

Regional checklists

Birds of Canada Birds of the United Kingdom Birds of the United States Birds of Alberta Birds of British Columbia Birds of Manitoba Birds of New Brunswick Birds of Newfoundland and Labrador Birds of Nova Scotia Birds of Northwest Territories

By family

Ducks, Geese & Swans of Canada Ducks, Geese & Swans of the United Kingdom Ducks, Geese & Swans of the United States Ducks, Geese & Swans of Alberta Ducks, Geese & Swans of British Columbia Ducks, Geese & Swans of Manitoba Ducks, Geese & Swans of New Brunswick Ducks, Geese & Swans of Newfoundland and Labrador Ducks, Geese & Swans of Nova Scotia Ducks, Geese & Swans of Northwest Territories

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The Harlequin Duck (Histrionicus histrionicus) is a member of the Anatidae family found in Europe & Northern Asia and North America. Adults weigh 562 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.

Conservation status

IUCN Red List

LC Least Concern

Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.

Where it fits

Class Aves
Order Anseriformes
Family Anatidae Ducks, Geese, Swans
Genus Histrionicus
Species histrionicus

Where it lives

Northeastern Siberia, Chukotka, Kamchatka, and Sakhalin pens., Kuril Is., Hokkaido and northern Honshu (central Japan); Aleutian Is., Alaska, western Canada, Pacific Northwest and northern Rocky Mt. states; northeastern Canada, southern Greenland and Iceland

Quick facts

Weight: 562 g
Diet: Aquatic hunters
Family: Anatidae
Order: Anseriformes
Habitat: Wetland, lake & coast

How to identify

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Smew

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Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Harlequin Duck hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.

Behaviour

A bird of open sea and coastal waters, it swims and feeds in and around water.

Migration

The Harlequin Duck is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.

The Harlequin Duck (Histrionicus histrionicus) is a species of bird in the Anatidae family, part of the order Anseriformes. Its range spans Europe & Northern Asia and North America. Its distribution covers NA, PAL ne Siberia, Chukotka, Kamchatka, and Sakhalin pens., Kuril Is., Hokkaido and n Honshu (c Japan); Aleutian Is., Alaska, w Canada, Pacific Northwest and n Rocky Mt. states; ne Canada, s Greenland and Iceland.

It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 562 g, with a wing length of about 19.4 cm and a tail of around 8.8 cm.

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

The species has a mapped global range of roughly 7.9 million km².

Songs & calls

Harlequin Duck — Call

Recorded by Bruce Lagerquist Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Harlequin Duck?

The Harlequin Duck is a large bird that weighs around 562 g.

Where does the Harlequin Duck live?

The Harlequin Duck is found across Europe & Northern Asia and North America with a range covering NA, PAL ne Siberia, Chukotka, Kamchatka, and Sakhalin pens., Kuril Is., Hokkaido and n Honshu (c Japan); Aleutian Is., Alaska, w Canada, Pacific Northwest and n Rocky Mt. states; ne Canada, s Greenland and Iceland, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.

What family does the Harlequin Duck belong to?

The Harlequin Duck (Histrionicus histrionicus) belongs to the Anatidae family, in the order Anseriformes.

What does the Harlequin Duck eat?

The Harlequin Duck hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.

Does the Harlequin Duck migrate?

The Harlequin Duck is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.

Is the Harlequin Duck endangered?

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

What sound does the Harlequin Duck make?

1 real field recording of the Harlequin Duck — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.

How large is the Harlequin Duck's range?

The Harlequin Duck has a mapped global range of about 7.9 million km².