Common Eider

Common Eider, male, breeding plumage

About the photographs

About the map

Play sound from this species

Common Eider, female

Menu

1. Description
2. Sound
3. Conservation Status
4. Other Names
5. Cool Facts
6. Full detailed species account

A colorful duck of the northern seacoasts, the Common Eider is the largest duck in the Northern Hemisphere. The male's bright white, black, and green plumage contrasts markedly with the female's camouflaging dull striped brown.

Description

• Large, stocky duck.
• Distinctive wedge-shaped head with long bill.
• Male bold black-and-white, with black cap, white back, and black undersides.
• Female brown with black barring.

• Size: 50-71 cm (20-28 in)
• Weight: 1180-3040 g (41.65-107.31 ounces)

Sex Differences

Male boldly black-and-white. Female brownish with black barring.

Sound

Calls hoarse, grating and cooing sounds.

Conservation Status

Market hunting reduced southern population in the Atlantic to near extinction by the end of the 19th century. That population currently is healthy. Arctic populations are declining.

Other Names

Eider à duvet (French)

Cool Facts

• The Pacific form of the Common Eider is distinct genetically and morphologically from the other forms, and may be a different species. The male has a thin black V on its chin and a bright yellow or orange bill.
• Mother Common Eiders lead their young to water, and often are accompanied by nonbreeding hens that participate in chick protection. Broods often come together to form "crèches" of a few to over 150 ducklings. Attacks by predators may cause several broods to cluster together into a crèche. Once formed, a crèche tends to stay together throughout the brood rearing period, although some of the different females attending it may leave.

Sources used to construct this page:

1. Bellrose, F. C. 1976. Ducks, Geese, and Swans of North America. Stackpole Books, Harrisburg, PA.
2. Goudie, R. I., G. J. Robertson, and A. Reed. 2000. Common Eider (Somateria mollissima). In The Birds of North America, No. 546 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.