The Harlequin Duck (Histrionicus histrionicus) is a small sea duck. In North America it is also known as Lords and ladies.
Their breeding habitat is cold fast moving streams. In Yellowstone, they can be found at LeHardy Rapids and several other locations through out the Park in early May. These birds feed by swimming under water or diving. They also dabble. They eat molluscs, crustaceans and insects. Harlequins have smooth, densely packed feathers that trap a lot of air within them....
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The Harlequin Duck (Histrionicus histrionicus) is a small sea duck. In North America it is also known as Lords and ladies.
Their breeding habitat is cold fast moving streams. In Yellowstone, they can be found at LeHardy Rapids and several other locations through out the Park in early May. These birds feed by swimming under water or diving. They also dabble. They eat molluscs, crustaceans and insects. 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.
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