Verification of Unusual
Sight Record
For Utah
Rec. # 2020-16
| Common name: |
Harlequin Duck |
| Scientific name: | Histrionicus histrionicus |
| Date: | 5-08-2020 |
| Time: |
6:00pm |
| Length of time observed: | 50 minutes |
| Number: | 2 |
| Age: | Adult pair |
| Sex: | Male and Female |
| Location: | Willard Waste Water Plant |
| County: | Box Elder |
| Latilong: | 41.426262, -112.059428 |
| Elevation: | 4220ft |
| Distance to bird: | 50m |
| Optical equipment: | Nikon 10x50 Binoculars,Vortex 20-60X spotting scope |
| Weather: | Sunny,clear,70F |
| Light Conditions: | poor, birds backlit |
| Description: Size of bird: | male, 34 46 cm; female, 33 42 cm(Birds of the World) |
| (Description:) Basic Shape: | Typical duck |
| (Description:) Overall Pattern: | Mostly dark with white markings |
| (Description:) Bill Type: | typical duck bill |
|
(Description:)
Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics: |
Reported to eBird earlier that day by Hal and Kathleen Robins, I saw the report
as I was getting off work and chased. Easily found on north shore of the sewage
lagoon. Back-lighting was a challenge, but drake very distinctive: mostly dark
blue with red flanks, white crescent marking in face, small cheek spot, white
necklace and stripes on back and flanks. Female uniform sooty brown, 3 spots on
face, dark bill (see photos) |
| Song or call & method of delivery: | None heard |
| Behavior: | Loafing and sleeping on rocks of shore of sewage lagoon |
| Habitat: | Freshwater sewage pond |
| Similar
species and
how were they eliminated: |
Distinctive and unique Duck, nothing quite similar to the Drake. Female had 3 face spots, not the 1 of a Bufflehead hen, Surf and White-winged Scoter hens larger and with 2 larger face spots. |
| Previous
experience with this & similar species: |
Yes, I've seen hundreds on Puget Sound of Washington State, 4 in Utah on Antelope Island Causeway |
| References consulted: | Memory |
| Description from: | From photo(s) taken at the time of the sighting |
| Observer: | Bryant Olsen |
| Observer's address: | 84102,SLC,UT |
| Observer's e-mail address: | ** |
| Other observers who independently identified this bird: | Hal and Kathleen Robins found and reported the ducks earlier that day. Many others observed them that evening |
| Date prepared: | 5-13-2020 |
| Additional material: | Photos |
| Additional comments: | eBird checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S68634238 |