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King Eider

Somateria spectabilisOrder: ANSERIFORMESFamily: Geese and Ducks (Anatidae)
King-Eider Male Portrait
  Splitbar
Range Map for King Eider

Overview

King Eider: Large diving duck with black body and white breast, back. The crown and nape are pale blue; distinct bill is orange-red, sweeping upward into a large, orange basal knob outlined in black. Wings are black with large white patches visible in flight. Tail has white patches at the base.

Range and Habitat

King Eider: Breeds in the Canadian Arctic, Greenland, Alaska, and Siberia. On the Atlantic coast, spends winters south to Massachusetts but rarely beyond. Preferred habitats are rocky coasts and open ocean; nests on inland freshwater lakes and ponds.

Splitbar

Listen:

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Voice Text

"urrr-urrr-URR"

Splitbar
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Related Birds:

Surf Scoter
Long-tailed Duck
Steller's Eider
Spectacled Eider
.

Copyright © 2005 WBFI Research Foundation Bird database and its related content and media is Copyright (C) 2002 - 2005 Mitch Waite Group All rights reserved.

Family Diving Ducks (Anatidae)_blue
Species Somateria spectabilis
Length18 - 25 Inches
Wingspan37.5 Inches

King Eider

King Eider: Large diving duck with black body and white breast, back. The crown and nape are pale blue; distinct bill is orange-red, sweeping upward into a large, orange basal knob outlined in black. Wings are black with large white patches visible in flight. Tail has white patches at the base.

● Song: "urrr-urrr-URR"

● Foraging & Feeding: King Eider: Feeds on mollusks, crustaceans, aquatic insects, eelgrass, widgeon grass, and algae; forages by diving deep under water from the surface.

● Breeding & nesting: King Eider: Three to seven olive, pale olive, or buff eggs are laid in a flattened hollow of grass lined with down, usually near the water. Incubation ranges from 22 to 24 days and is carried out by the female.

● Similar species: King Eider: Common Eider has black cap, white back, and lacks orange bill and shield. Spectacled Eider has black breast and spectacles and white back.

Flight Pattern

Swift direct flight with rapid wing beats., Flies in straight line formation
King-Eider Male Body Illustration
● Range & Habitat: King Eider: Breeds in the Canadian Arctic, Greenland, Alaska, and Siberia. On the Atlantic coast, spends winters south to Massachusetts but rarely beyond. Preferred habitats are rocky coasts and open ocean; nests on inland freshwater lakes and ponds.
BreedingMonogamous, Solitary nester
PopulationCommon to abundant
MigrationMigratory
Weight59.2 Ounces