Birds - All

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Categories & Keywords

Category:Animals

Subcategory:Birds

Subcategory Detail:

Keywords:Harlequin Duck Histrionicus histrionicus, Wyoming, Yellowstone National Park, Yellowstone River, bird, clean water, diving duck, female, mountain river, rapids, swimming, water, water bubbles, water splashing, waterfowl, whitewater

Photo Info

Dimensions5400 x 3600

Original file size7.94 MB

Image typeJPEG

Color spacesRGB

Date taken9-Aug-12 09:51

Date modified12-Feb-23 23:39

Shooting Conditions

Camera makeNIKON CORPORATION

Camera modelNIKON D2X

Focal length420 mm

Focal length (35mm)630 mm

Max lens aperturef/4

Exposure1/640 at f/5

FlashNot fired

Exposure bias-2/3 EV

Exposure modeAuto

Exposure prog.Aperture priority

ISO speedISO 100

Metering modePattern

Digital zoom1x

Harlequin Duck_Juvenile_JF03498

I believe this is a juvenile. It was one of several in a family of Harlequin Ducks (Histrionicus histrionicus) deftly navigating white water on the Yellowstone River. It could have been one of a summer flock of females. But there seemed to be one that stood watch over the others as they swam in the current. That appeared like motherly oversight to me. And the more whitish coloring across the face above the bill on the bird in the image seems distinct from the pattern on adult females I've seen in field guides.

Like Dippers, they feed on aquatic insects by diving in fast moving, clear and clean streams. They may also feed on small fish.

Northwestern Wyoming is the southeastern-most tip of their breeding range.

Location: Yellowstone National Park, WY