Harlequin Duck Similar Species Comparison
Main SpeciesHarlequin Duck
Breeding male
Small sea duck with short bill. Extravagantly marked with slate blue body, white facial crescent and spot, chestnut crown patch and flanks, and bold white body stripes.
© Ian Davies / Macaulay LibraryHokkaido, December 28, 2013Female
Small brown sea duck with short bill and round head. Telltale facial markings recall male pattern with white patch behind bill and white spot behind eye.
© Chris Thomas / Macaulay LibraryNew Jersey, April 08, 2017Breeding males and females
Gathers in loose flocks in winter along rocky coastlines. Short bill, steep forehead, and rounded crown create a distinctive shape.
© Benjamin Clock / Macaulay LibraryNew Jersey, January 24, 2009Not all videos have sound
Nonbreeding male
Rounded head and short bill. Body color brownish with hints of slate blue breeding colors. White facial markings as in adult birds, especially cheek spot.
© Marc North / Macaulay LibraryMichigan, March 06, 2016Breeding male and female
Winters along rocky seacoasts. Males are slate blue with bold white stripes and chestnut flanks. Females are brownish with distinctive white face markings.
© Cos van Wermeskerken / Macaulay LibraryBritish Columbia, March 15, 2017Breeding male
Winters along rocky seacoasts, often in small flocks.
© Margaret Viens / Macaulay LibraryMaine, November 13, 2014Breeding male
Breeds along seacoasts as shown, but also inland. Male's white face markings and body stripes are distinctive from long distances.
© Chris Wood / Macaulay LibraryAlaska, March 25, 2011Breeding male and female
Plump, fairly small sea ducks with rounded heads and short bills. Males and females share distinctive face pattern, especially spot behind eye.
© Darren Clark / Macaulay LibraryWyoming, May 16, 2016Breeding male and female
Gregarious sea duck often seen in flocks. Summers fairly far north and sometimes rests on floating ice.
© Andrew Spencer / Macaulay LibraryAlaska, May 22, 2013Similar SpeciesBufflehead
Breeding male
Buffleheads are smaller than Harlequin Ducks with a white (not dark) belly and large white patch on the back of the head.
© Liron Gertsman / Macaulay LibraryBritish Columbia, November 21, 2015Similar SpeciesBufflehead
Female
Female Buffleheads are smaller than Harlequin ducks and have only one white spot on the face.
© Bridget Spencer / Macaulay LibraryBritish Columbia, December 24, 2015Similar SpeciesSurf Scoter
Breeding male
Surf Scoters are larger than Harlequin Ducks with a longer sloped forehead and a larger bill.
© Brian Sullivan / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, January 12, 2007Similar SpeciesSurf Scoter
Female
Female Surf Scoters are larger with a longer sloping forehead and a larger bill.
© Brian Sullivan / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, November 23, 2007Similar SpeciesCommon Goldeneye
Immature male
Immature male Common Goldeneyes have a white (not dark) breast and only one white spot on the face.
© Carl Miller / Macaulay LibraryMaryland, February 20, 2017Similar SpeciesLong-tailed Duck
Nonbreeding male and female
Long-tailed Ducks have more white on the face than Harlequin Ducks.
© Jay Ovsiovitch / Macaulay LibraryNew York, February 20, 2017Rotate Your Device to Better Compare
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Species in This Family
Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl(Order: Anseriformes, Family: Anatidae)
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