The Harlequin Duck is one of Newfoundland's endangered birds. It is a small, subarctic sea duck. The adult male has blue plumage, chestnut sides, and whit steaks on the head and body. The crown has a black stripe with a chestnut stripe on either side. The belly is slate grey. Females are brownish-grey with patches of white around the eye.

The main factors that cause the decrease in the eastern population of Harlequin Ducks are the destruction, alteration and caontamination of their habitat. Oils spills,major oil pollution, hydro projects and other human activites are some examples. Although hunting of the duck is illlegal, sometimes females and young ducks are mistaken for other species, therefore being vulnerable to hunters because they feed close to shore.

The hunting season for Harlequin Ducks in the Atlantic provinces has been closed since 1990-1991 because of the animal's status. The hunting season for Harlequin Ducks has also been closed in Maine. The species was also determied endangered under the New Brunswick Provincial Endangered Species Act, in 1996. Also, in 1996 a recovery plan for the Harlequin Duck was approved. The goal of this plan was to increase the North American Marlequin Duck population, so its status would be vulnerable, instead of endangered.

It is important for us to try to save this bird from extinction because it is not too late. It is our fault the Harlequin Duck is endangered, therefore it is our responsibility to save it. The recovery plan in 1996 was a step in trying to downlist the species status to something more stable. With more time and more effort we could save this important part of our envirnoment from extinction.

Reference: http://www.speciesatrisk.gc.ca/Species/English/SearchDetail.cfm?SpeciesID=22