Harlequin Duck – Oregon Conservation Strategy

Harlequin Duck drake. Photo Credit: Keith Kohl

Overview

Species Common Name Harlequin Duck
Species Scientific Name Histrionicus histrionicus
Federal Listing Status Species of Concern
State Listing Status Sensitive

Ecoregions

Coast Range

Oregon’s Coast Range, known for its dramatic scenery, is extremely diverse, with habitats ranging from open sandy dunes to lush forests and from tidepools to headwater streams. It follows the coastline and extends east through coastal forest to the border of the Willamette Valley and Klamath Mountains ecoregions

West Cascades

The West Cascades ecoregion extends from east of the Cascade Mountains summit to the foothills of the Willamette, Umpqua, and Rogue Valleys, and spans the entire length of the state of Oregon. It is largely dominated by conifer forests, moving into alpine parklands and dwarf shrubs at higher elevations.

Special needs

Harlequin Ducks typically breed along moderately-sized mountain streams with boulder substrate. They select well-concealed nest sites along stream banks or on islands. Harlequin Ducks forage on benthic macroinvertebrates in fast-flowing, clear water with rocky bottom. This species molts and winters in nearshore areas along the coast.

Limiting factors

Harlequin Ducks have narrow breeding habitat requirements, high breeding site fidelity, low reproductive rates, and delayed reproduction. Wintering coastal birds are vulnerable to human disturbance as well as pollution and oil exposure from oil spills.

Data gaps

Assess abundance. Provide more extensive data on breeding locations in the Coast Range. Conduct winter surveys along the coast.

Conservation actions

Minimize disturbance in breeding areas.

Key reference or plan

Final Report on 2012 and 2013 ISSSP Harlequin Duck Monitoring in the Oregon Cascades, Willamette, and Mt. Hood National Forests and Salem and Eugene Bureau of Land Management Districts