Kauaʻi Conservation Atlas

Kauaʻi record · kba_bird_harlequin_duck

Harlequin Duck

Histrionicus histrionicus

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Harlequin Duck — Adults · male left, female right
Harlequin Duck — Adults · male left, female right · OpenAI image generation; Atlas deterministic typesetting · AI-generated artwork; no third-party photograph reproduced · Image source

About Harlequin Duck

Harlequin Duck (Histrionicus histrionicus) appears in the wider Hawaiian bird catalog, but the Bishop Museum's 2017 island checklist has no Kauaʻi occurrence code for it. An island-specific record is needed before claiming local presence.

Kauaʻi evidence

A Hawaiʻi-level record is available, but the species needs a documented Kauaʻi observation before local ecological conclusions are drawn.

Occurrence evidence

island_checklist_no_kauai_code

Names and classification

Scientific name
Histrionicus histrionicus
Common names
Harlequin Duck
Family
Anatidae
Order
Anseriformes
Record type
Species

Kauaʻi occurrence and status

Kauaʻi occurrence
No Kauaʻi occurrence code in 2017 island checklist; further evidence needed
Origin
Vagrant visitor
Conservation status
Not assessed
Evidence date
2026-09-13
Evidence limits
Kauaʻi occurrence or ecological use remains uncertain

Habitat and ecology

Habitats
Wetlands · Taro fields · Ponds · Estuaries · Coastal habitat
Food and resource needs
For Kauaʻi, Harlequin Duck has no standing local food dependency until an occurrence is validated. If recorded, attach the observation to transient access to aquatic vegetation, seeds, algae, submerged plant material, aquatic invertebrates, mollusks, crustaceans, small fish, or planktonic prey according to foraging type.
Reproduction
Breeding on Kauaʻi is not established; seasonal resting and foraging habitat may be relevant.
Shelter
Shelter and structure within wetlands, taro fields, ponds.

Threats and conservation

Threats
Wetland condition, avian disease, survey detectability, and rare-record review are the relevant open questions
Conservation actions
Document date, place, observer, habitat, and supporting media · Confirm identification and Kauaʻi occurrence before local conservation use
Monitoring
Document date, place, observer, habitat, behavior, and supporting media for any Kauaʻi observation.
Data gaps
A documented Kauaʻi observation with date, place, observer, and supporting media is needed

Process and seasonal context

Seasonal timing
Rare Or Unresolved Hawaiian Waterbird Record Needs Kauai Review
Seasonal description
Harlequin Duck (Histrionicus histrionicus) appears in the wider Hawaiian bird catalog, but the Bishop Museum's 2017 island checklist has no Kauaʻi occurrence code for it. An island-specific record is needed before claiming local presence.

Sources and further reading

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