Measurements
Both Sexes
- Length
- 19.7–28 in
50–71 cm - Weight
- 41.6–107.2 oz
1180–3040 g
Other Names
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.
Habitat
Ocean
Breeds on coastal islands or along ponds and lagoons near the ocean. Winters offshore near marine shoals.
Food
Insects
Aquatic invertebrates, especially mollusks, crustaceans, and sea urchins.
Nesting
Nesting Facts
- Clutch Size
- 1–14 eggs
- Egg Description
- Olive or greenish, usually unmarked.
- Condition at Hatching
- Covered in down and able to leave the nest soon after hatching.
Nest Description
A scrape on the ground, usually near water, lined with vegetation and down from the female.
Nest Placement
Ground
Behavior
Surface Dive
Dives to sea floor to take prey.
Conservation
Least Concern
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.
Credits
- Bellrose, F. C. 1976. Ducks, Geese, and Swans of North America. Stackpole Books, Harrisburg, PA.
- 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.