Quick Answer
Harlequin ducks are not actually present in the Call of the Wild video game. The game is set in the Yukon during the 1890s Klondike Gold Rush and features a husky named Buck as the main character. Since harlequin ducks are not featured in the game, there will not be any harlequin duck droppings present in the game world. The game does include various other animal species like rabbits, foxes, bears, and wolves which may have droppings present in the wilderness environments. But specific harlequin duck droppings will not be found.
Looking for Harlequin Ducks in Call of the Wild
Call of the Wild is an open world adventure game developed by Behavior Interactive and published by THQ Nordic. It is based on Jack London’s famous 1903 novel of the same name. The game follows the story of the dog Buck as he is stolen from his comfortable life on a ranch in California and sold as a sled dog in the Yukon.
As Buck struggles to adjust to his harsh new reality and the lawless gold rush culture, the player controls Buck on his journey across the frigid and unforgiving Yukon wilderness. Along the way, he encounters a variety of animals including rabbits, hares, foxes, bears, and wolves. The game features survival gameplay elements like hunting prey, avoiding predators, finding shelter, and maintaining Buck’s health and stamina.
However, one type of animal that is not present in Call of the Wild is the harlequin duck. Harlequin ducks are sea ducks that inhabit coastlines and fast moving streams primarily in northwestern North America, Iceland, Greenland and northeastern Asia. The males have colorful plumage and give the species its name for resembling the gaudy costume of Harlequin clowns.
Habitat and Range of Harlequin Ducks
Harlequin ducks breed in forested areas near fast moving rivers and streams in northwestern North America, northern Europe and Asia. Their breeding habitat extends in North America from Alaska through western Canada to Idaho and northwestern Montana.
During the winter, they migrate to coastal waters further south along the North American Pacific coast and north Atlantic coast. On the Pacific side, they are found wintering along coasts from southern Alaska all the way south to central California. On the Atlantic side, they migrate down the coasts of eastern Canada, New England, and the mid-Atlantic.
So while harlequin ducks do inhabit parts of Alaska, the specific setting of Call of the Wild in the Yukon Territory of northwestern Canada is outside of their breeding and migratory range. The game is set near Dawson City which is far from the coastal habitats that harlequins utilize. Given their range and habitat preferences, it is highly unlikely that the species would be present in the inland subarctic wilderness depicted in the game.
Wildlife in Call of the Wild
Here are some of the major wildlife species that can be found throughout the Yukon wilderness in Call of the Wild:
- Gray wolves – Wolves are present and will attack Buck if provoked. They roam in packs around the forests and mountain valleys.
- Grizzly bears – Aggressive grizzly bears pose a threat to Buck and will attack if startled or challenged.
- Rabbits and hares – Snowshoe hares and arctic rabbits provide hunting targets and sources of food for Buck.
- Foxes – Red foxes and arctic foxes can be seen hunting smaller prey like rodents and birds.
- Moose – Large bull moose may charge Buck if they feel threatened by his presence.
- Dall sheep – Wild mountain sheep that Buck encounters in alpine environments.
- Wolverines – These fearsome mountain-dwelling weasels are a rare sight but pose a risk.
- Ptarmigan – These hardy grouse are well-camouflaged in snow and make challenging hunting targets.
As this summary shows, the wildlife featured represents typicalnorthwestern North American subarctic fauna. But noticeably absent are any waterfowl species like ducks and geese. Since the majority of gameplay centers on inland taiga, forest,mountain and tundra environments, there are no duck species present. The game does not feature any coastal areas, marshes, rivers or lakes where duck species like harlequins would be found. So harlequin ducks simply do not exist anywhere within the Call of the Wild game world for players to find evidence of.
Identifying Harlequin Duck Droppings
Although they won’t be found in Call of the Wild, it can still be useful to learn how to identify harlequin duck droppings in case you do encounter them in the wild. Here are some key traits:
– Dark gray to black in color
– Coiled, tubular shape typical of most waterfowl species
– Around 1.5 inches long on average
– Usually found along rocky shorelines or streams where harlequins float and feed
– Composed of vegetation and aquatic invertebrate remains since their diet consists of small shrimp, mollusks, and larvae
– May contain traces of gravel from foraging along rocky bottoms
– Found in large quantities near nesting sites and communal loafing areas
So if you are exploring coastal habitats like tidal zones along the Northwest coast where harlequin ducks are known to breed and feed, look for plenty of dark, tubular droppings left behind on the rocks. This will be a clear sign that harlequins frequent the area.
Droppings of Other Waterfowl
To help provide more context, here is a comparison of droppings from a few other common waterfowl species:
Mallard Duck
– Greenish-brown color
– Tubular spiral shape
– Around 1-1.5 inches long
– Composed of vegetation
Canada Goose
– Light to dark brown
– Thick tubular coil
– Up to 2 inches long
– Composed of grass and plant matter
American Coot
– Dark green
– Thick tubular spiral
– Up to 1 inch long
– Composed of algae and vegetation
Common Loon
– Blackish color
– Thinner and more elongated
– Around 2 inches long
– Contains fish bones and feathers
So harlequin duck droppings are most similar to other duck species but are typically darker in color. All waterfowl produce spiral tubular feces due to their intestine structure and watery diet. But size,color and contents can vary by species and habitat.
Conclusion
To summarize, harlequin ducks are not present anywhere in the Call of the Wild video game so players will not find any harlequin duck droppings within the game world environments. The game is set in the subarctic Yukon wilderness far from the coastal regions harlequins inhabit. But if you do encounter harlequin ducks in the wild, look for numerous dark tubular droppings along rocky shorelines and streams to confirm their presence. Their feces can be identified by the dark color, coiled shape, small size around 1.5 inches, and contents like aquatic invertebrates and vegetation. With the right information, harlequin duck signs can be reliably distinguished from other waterfowl species.