King Eider
Image: gordsheard (cc-by-nc)
NameKing Eider
Common NameKing Eider
Scientific NameSomateria spectabilis
FamilyAnatidae
Wingspan (cm)94
Length (cm)60
Weight (g)1600
Plumage DetailsMale: Pale grey crown and nape, white cheeks, and a distinctive orange frontal shield on the bill bordered by black. The breast is buffy-pink, and the body is mostly black with white patches on the back and flanks. Female: Mottled brown plumage, similar in shape but lacking the male's elaborate head pattern, with a smaller bill shield.
Vocalization / CallMales produce a soft, cooing 'hoo-hoo-hoo' or 'ah-ooo-ah-ooo' during courtship. Females have a harsh, guttural 'karr-karr-karr' or growls.
Primary Dietcarnivore
Primary Habitatsmarine, coastal, tundra
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeBreeds in the Arctic tundra of North America, Europe, and Asia. Winters in ice-free coastal waters of the Arctic and sub-Arctic, including the Bering Sea, North Atlantic, and Great Lakes.
Identifying Featuresmale's distinctive orange frontal shield on bill, male's pale grey head and buffy breast, male's black body with white patches, large, heavy-bodied sea duck
Description
A large sea duck, the male King Eider is strikingly patterned with a pale grey head, a prominent orange frontal shield on its bill, and a black body with a buffy breast. They are strong divers, foraging for benthic invertebrates in cold northern waters, often found in large flocks during winter.
