King Eider
Image: gordsheard (cc-by-nc)
NameKing Eider
Common NameKing Eider
Scientific NameSomateria spectabilis
FamilyAnatidae
Wingspan (cm)94
Length (cm)60
Weight (g)1700
Plumage DetailsAdult males have a pale blue-grey crown and nape, white cheeks, a black eye patch, and a prominent orange frontal shield on the bill. Their neck and breast are white, contrasting sharply with a mostly black body, though they have white patches on the back and flanks. Females are mottled brown overall with a smaller bill shield.
Vocalization / CallMales produce a soft, cooing 'hoo-hoo-hooo' or 'ah-ooo-ah-ooo' sound, especially during courtship. Females typically emit a low growl or a series of harsh quacks.
Primary Dietcarnivore
Primary Habitatsarctic coastal waters, tundra, rocky coasts, open ocean
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeCircumpolar Arctic, breeding on tundra ponds and coasts of North America, Greenland, Iceland, and Eurasia. They winter in ice-free coastal waters further south, including the Bering Sea, North Atlantic, and Baltic Sea.
Identifying FeaturesMale's unique blue-grey head with orange bill shield, White breast and black body (male), Large size for a sea duck, Distinctive head shape with a sloping forehead
Description
The King Eider is a large sea duck known for its striking appearance, particularly the male with its distinctive head plumage. These birds are strong divers, foraging for marine invertebrates in cold Arctic waters. They spend most of their lives in marine environments, only coming to land for breeding.
