| Common Name | Harlequin Duck |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Histrionicus histrionicus ( the only scientific name I can remember) |
| Type of Report | Rare Species |
| Date of Observation | 12/16/2024 |
| Number Observed | 1 |
| Reporting Observer's Name | Kyle Jones |
| Mailing Address | 22 Blue Moon Rd South Strafford, VT 05070 United States Map It |
| Email hidden; Javascript is required. | |
| Date Completed | 12/16/2024 |
| Names & Emails of Other Contributing Observers | No observers were with me at the time of this sighting. Originally found, photographed and reported by Jen and Brendan Armstrong, later seen by numerous observers (including me) from the New Hampshire side of the river. |
| Latitude of Observation (enter 0 if unable to provide) | 43.572652 |
| Longitude of Observation (enter 0 if unable to provide) | -72.381019 |
| Place Name | Sumner Falls Portage, CT River |
| Township | Hartland |
| County | Windsor |
| Vermont eBird Checklist URL | ebird.org |
| Time of Day | 10:10 AM |
| Length of Time Observed | 20 |
| Maximum Estimated Distance from Bird (in feet) | 5,000' (yes, a ridiculous distance) |
| Minimum Estimated Distance from Bird (in feet) | 4,000' |
| Noteworthy Weather Conditions | Cloudy, calm, 25F |
| Optical Equipment Used for Observation | Kowa Spotting Scope, max zoom |
| Observer’s Previous Acquaintance With This or Similar Species | Very familiar, numerous encounters, especially in Maine where I used to make special trips around the southern end of Isle au Haut to see New England's largest concentration. |
| I certify that any attachments included with this report were captured during this observation event. | |
| Description of Habitat | Connecticut River, completely open. Other waterfowl included Common Goldeneye and Mallards. Also a Bald Eagle that was repeatedly dive-bombing the flock. |
| Behaviors Observed | Synchronous diving with the goldeneyes the entire time I was observing it. Also diving when the eagle dove at the flock. |
| Description of Vocalizations | N/A |
| Verbal Narrative & Description of Observation | Very distant, but I set up on the Vermont side of the Connecticut River and waited until the flock came floating around the bend to the north. Then I picked through the flock and was able to pick out the Harlequin Duck several times. |
| Relative Size & Shape | Smaller and darker than the Common Goldeneyes it was with. Seeing these birds the previous day made it easier to pick it out of the flock. |
| Head | Dark with the distinctive 3 white spots on the face, in particular a large white crescent at the base of the bill. Background color was not discernable due to distance. |
| Feet & Bill | A fairly small and dark bill. Feet not seen. |
| Upper Back | Dark |
| Lower Back & Rump | Dark |
| Wings | What I could see was dark. |
| Breast, Belly, Flanks, Under Tail Coverts | Not well seen. |
| Tail | Not well seen. |
| IMPORTANT: What similar species were eliminated when making the identification and how was this bird different? | It was an actively diving duck, not particularly similar to any other species, but with goldeneyes for size comparison. Smaller than scoters, and the face pattern separated it from Hooded Mergansers or Bufflehead. |
| Other Notes & Comments | I had seen this bird in the same area the previous day, but from the NH side at a much closer distance. |
| This report was written from notes taken: | Immediately After |
Vermont Atlas of Life Partners
