A Clatter of Harlequins
I think Harlequins are one of the most beautiful ducks in the world. They breed in Iceland, Greenland, northern North America and eastern Asia. I have always found them to be quite unapproachable, which might explain their scientific name (Histrionicus histrionicus), although it also means theatrical as Histrio is a harlequin or actor. So it was named after its Harlequin-like plumage rather than its skittish behaviour.
The English language is full of quirky collective nouns that only survive because of quizzes and crosswords. Harlequins are far too rare a visitor to Britain to have a special collective noun, so I invented one. I decided upon clatter because they are such a neurotic, skittish duck they usually clatter over the surface as soon as you point a camera at them. I photographed these in Prince William Sound in Alaska.
A Clatter of Harlequins
I think Harlequins are one of the most beautiful ducks in the world. They breed in Iceland, Greenland, northern North America and eastern Asia. I have always found them to be quite unapproachable, which might explain their scientific name (Histrionicus histrionicus), although it also means theatrical as Histrio is a harlequin or actor. So it was named after its Harlequin-like plumage rather than its skittish behaviour.
The English language is full of quirky collective nouns that only survive because of quizzes and crosswords. Harlequins are far too rare a visitor to Britain to have a special collective noun, so I invented one. I decided upon clatter because they are such a neurotic, skittish duck they usually clatter over the surface as soon as you point a camera at them. I photographed these in Prince William Sound in Alaska.