Male harlequins are dark blue-gray, with bold accents.
Their faces are white, and the bills are dark gray. White markings include a spot over the ear, a patch on the side of the neck, a collar, and a streak from the shoulder to the breast. In addition, their black crowns are highlighted by rust. Spotting a harlequin while on a hike or float trip is a real treat, and because of their distinctive looks,they are one of the easiest waterfowl species to identify. It's very important not to harass harlequins, or scare them from their natural homes.