Harlequin Ducks, Histrionicus histrionicus, is a small sea duck. In North America it is also known as Lords and ladies. Other names include painted duck, totem pole duck, rock duck, glacier duck, mountain duck, white-eyed diver, squeaker and blue streak. They are native here? I see them on the Elwha River on The Olympic Peninsula, but all I know is they are beautiful ducks. I enjoy seeing them in the river, and trying to photograph them.
I got my info from Wikipedia, here's more of what I got..
"Harlequins have smooth, densely packed feathers that trap a lot of air within them. This is vital for insulating such small bodies against the chilly waters they ply. It also makes them exceptionally buoyant, making them bounce like corks after dives".
I like that last part, 'bounce like corks'.
" Two prehistoric harlequin ducks were described from fossils, although both were initially placed in a distinct genus: Histrionicus shotwelli is known from Middle to Late Miocene deposits of Oregon, USA and was considered to form a distinct monotypic genus, Ocyplonessa. Histrionicus ceruttii which lived in California during the Late Pliocene was at first taken to be a species of the related genus Melanitta.
The Harlequin Duck takes its name from Arlecchino, Harlequin in French, a colourfully dressed character in Commedia dell'arte. The species name comes from the Latin word "histrio", "actor"."
" Size: 33-54 cm (13-21 in)
Wingspan: 56-66 cm (22-26 in)
Weight: 500-726 g (17.65-25.63 ounce.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Harlequin Ducks on the Elwha River
Harlequin Ducks, Histrionicus histrionicus, is a small sea duck. In North America it is also known as Lords and ladies. Other names include painted duck, totem pole duck, rock duck, glacier duck, mountain duck, white-eyed diver, squeaker and blue streak. They are native here? I see them on the Elwha River on The Olympic Peninsula, but all I know is they are beautiful ducks. I enjoy seeing them in the river, and trying to photograph them.
I got my info from Wikipedia, here's more of what I got..
"Harlequins have smooth, densely packed feathers that trap a lot of air within them. This is vital for insulating such small bodies against the chilly waters they ply. It also makes them exceptionally buoyant, making them bounce like corks after dives".
I like that last part, 'bounce like corks'.
" Two prehistoric harlequin ducks were described from fossils, although both were initially placed in a distinct genus: Histrionicus shotwelli is known from Middle to Late Miocene deposits of Oregon, USA and was considered to form a distinct monotypic genus, Ocyplonessa. Histrionicus ceruttii which lived in California during the Late Pliocene was at first taken to be a species of the related genus Melanitta.
The Harlequin Duck takes its name from Arlecchino, Harlequin in French, a colourfully dressed character in Commedia dell'arte. The species name comes from the Latin word "histrio", "actor"."
" Size: 33-54 cm (13-21 in)
Wingspan: 56-66 cm (22-26 in)
Weight: 500-726 g (17.65-25.63 ounce.