Harlequin Duck
Harlequin DuckHarlequin DuckHarlequin DuckHarlequin Duck

Harlequin Duck

Histrionicus histrionicus

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
10–20% · With luck
overall probability at Olympic National Park
4,414 Verified records at Olympic National Park
November Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

The harlequin duck (Histrionicus histrionicus) is a small sea duck. It takes its name from Harlequin (Italian Arlecchino, French Arlequin), a colourfully dressed character in the commedia dell'arte theatre of Italy. The species name comes from the Latin word histrio, meaning "actor". Other names include painted duck, totem pole duck, rock duck, glacier duck, mountain duck, white-eyed diver, squeaker, lords and ladies and blue streak. Wikipedia →

10–20% of wildlife watchers report a Harlequin Duck sighting in Olympic National Park, based on 4,414 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Olympic National Park

Canada Goose
LC

Canada Goose

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Branta canadensis

20–30% · Possible
Mallard
LC

Mallard

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Anas platyrhynchos

20–30% · Possible
Surf Scoter
LC

Surf Scoter

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Melanitta perspicillata

10–20% · With luck
Bufflehead
LC

Bufflehead

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Bucephala albeola

10–20% · With luck
American Wigeon

American Wigeon

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Mareca americana

10–20% · With luck
Common Merganser
LC

Common Merganser

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Mergus merganser

10–20% · With luck
American White-winged Scoter
LC

American White-winged Scoter

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Melanitta deglandi

5–10% · With luck
Red-breasted Merganser
LC

Red-breasted Merganser

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Mergus serrator

5–10% · With luck
Common Teal
LC

Common Teal

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Anas crecca

5–10% · With luck
Hooded Merganser
LC

Hooded Merganser

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Lophodytes cucullatus

5–10% · With luck
Northern Pintail
LC

Northern Pintail

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Anas acuta

5–10% · With luck
Common Goldeneye
LC

Common Goldeneye

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Bucephala clangula

5–10% · Rare

📅 Monthly Probability

10–20
Jan
10–20
Feb
10–20
Mar
10–20
Apr
5–10
May
5–10
Jun
5–10
Jul
5–10
Aug
10–20
Sep
10–20
Oct
20–30
Nov
10–20
Dec

☀️ When They're Spotted

Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)

☀️Diurnal
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is)  ·  parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Probability
1 Thingvellir National Park 🇮🇸 Iceland
50–60%
2 Vatnajokull National Park 🇮🇸 Iceland
30–40%
3 Katmai National Park 🇺🇸 United States
20–30%
4 Great Bear Rainforest 🇨🇦 Canada
10–20%
5 Yellowstone National Park 🇺🇸 United States
10–20%
6 Olympic National Park 🇺🇸 United States
10–20%
7 Kenai Fjords National Park 🇺🇸 United States
10–20%
8 Pacific Rim National Park Reserve 🇨🇦 Canada
10–20%
9 Cape Breton Highlands National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
5–10%
10 Denali National Park 🇺🇸 United States
5–10%
11 Gros Morne National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
<5%
12 Acadia National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
13 Jasper National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
<5%
14 Kluane National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
<5%
15 Wrangell-St. Elias National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
16 Glacier National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
17 Banff National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
<5%
18 Gates of the Arctic National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
19 Nahanni National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
Insufficient data
20 Redwood National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data
21 Grand Teton National Park 🇺🇸 United States
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Harlequin Duck in Olympic National Park?

About 11% of wildlife watchers report a Harlequin Duck sighting in Olympic National Park, based on 4,414 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Harlequin Duck in Olympic National Park?

November has the highest sighting rate for Harlequin Duck in Olympic National Park in our monthly data.

← Back to Olympic National Park