Spectacled Eider
NameSpectacled Eider
Common NameSpectacled Eider
Scientific NameSomateria fischeri
FamilyAnatidae
Wingspan (cm)92.5
Length (cm)54.5
Weight (g)1600
Plumage DetailsAdult males have a white body with black flanks and rump, a green nape, and a prominent white head with black-rimmed 'spectacles' around the eyes. Their bill is large and orange with a prominent frontal lobe. Females are mottled brown with similar but less defined 'spectacles'.
Vocalization / CallMales produce soft, cooing calls, often described as 'hoo-hoo-hoo'. Females typically utter low growls or grunts.
Primary Dietcarnivore
Primary Habitatscoastal, wetland, tundra
Conservation Statusvulnerable
Geographic RangeBreeds in arctic coastal areas of Alaska (primarily the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta) and Siberia. Winters in ice-free coastal waters, mainly in the Bering Sea.
Identifying FeaturesDistinctive white 'spectacles' around the eyes (especially prominent in males), Large orange bill with a prominent frontal lobe, Male's green nape, Stocky body typical of eiders
Description
The Spectacled Eider is a large sea duck known for its distinctive head pattern. Males are strikingly patterned with white, black, and green, while females are mottled brown. They are strong divers, foraging for invertebrates in shallow arctic waters.
