INTRODUCTION 

 Male harlequin ducks are slate-blue with white patches on 

 the head, neck, and scapulars; the flanks and sides are chestnut. 

 Females and immatures are dusky brown with three white spots on 

 their head. 



Compared to other North American waterfowl, relatively 

 little is known of harlequin duck breedinq bioloqy, winter 

 ecoloqy, or miqrational habits and patterns. Kuchel (1977) 

 conducted the only intensive study of Harlequin ducks in Montana. 

 Two other investiqations of harlequin duck breedinq bioloqy have 

 been conducted on the North Pacific population; Dzinbal (1982) in 

 Alaska and Wallen (1987) in Grand Teton National Park, Wyominq. 

 The Atlantic coast population in Iceland is probably the best 

 studied (Benqston 1966, Benqston and Ulfstrand 1971, Benqston 

 1972) . 



The distribution of harlequin ducks in North America is 

 divided into 2 distinct populations; the North Atlantic coast and 

 the North Pacific coast (Belrose 1980) (Fiqure 1) . The North 

 Pacific coast population breeds inland from northern California 

 northward throuqh Oreqon, Washinqton, British Columbia, and 

 Alaska. They also occur in areas of the northern Rocky Mountains 

 from northwest Wyominq, throuqh northern Canada. Harlequin ducks 

 are most common in the Aleutian Islands of Alaska (Bellrose 1976, 

 Palmer 1976) . Montana is on the western limit of the harlequin 

 breedinq ranqe with breedinq populations uncommon and localized 

 (Kuchel 1977) . 



