Measurements
Both Sexes
- Length
- 16.9–17.7 in
43–45 cm - Weight
- 30–31 oz
850–880 g
Other Names
- Eider de Steller (French)
- Eider menor (Spanish)
Cool Facts
- Spends the winter in large flocks. Flocks dive synchronously and may create a spray as they dive and then surface in unison.
Habitat
Lake/Pond
- Breeds on tundra, near edges of shallow ponds. Compared to other eiders, not so closely tied to the sea or coast.
- Winters along coast in shallow lagoons with large tidal flats, and in deep bays.
Food
Insects
Aquatic invertebrates, including insects and larvae, small crustaceans, clams, and mussels.
Nesting
Nesting Facts
- Egg Description
- Olive-buff to brownish-orange.
- Condition at Hatching
- Downy and eyes open. Feed themselves immediately.
Nest Description
On ground in open tundra. Made of grass, weeds, lichens, and down.
Nest Placement
Ground
Behavior
Dabbler
Dives underwater, but also tips-up.
Conservation
Vulnerable
Populations declining, and considered threatened in the United States and rare in Russia.
Credits
- Fredrickson, L. H. 2001. Steller's Eider (Polysticta stelleri). In The Birds of North America, No. 571 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.