The common eider (pronounced /ˈaɪ.dər/) (Somateria mollissima) is a large (50–71cm (20–28in) in body length) sea-duck that is distributed over the northern coasts of Europe, North America and eastern Siberia. It breeds in Arctic and some northern temperate regions, but winters somewhat farther south in temperate zones, when it can form large flocks on coastal waters. It can fly at speeds up to 113km/h (70mph).
The eider's nest is built close to the sea and is lined with the celebrated eiderdown, plucked from the female's breast. This soft and warm lining has long been harvested for filling pillows and quilts, but in more recent years has been largely replaced by down from domestic farm-geese and synthetic alternatives. Although eiderdown pillows or quilts are now a rarity, eiderdown harvesting continues and is sustainable, as it can be done after the ducklings leave the nest with no harm to the birds.
Description
The common eider is both the largest of the four eider species and the largest duck found in Europe and in North America (except for the Muscovy duck which only reaches North America in a wild state in southernmost Texas and south Florida). It measures 50 to 71cm (20 to 28in) in length, weighs 0.81 to 3.04kg (1.8 to 6.7lb) and spans 80–110cm (31–43in) across the wings. The average weight of 22 males in the North Atlantic was 2.21kg (4.9lb) while 32 females weighed an average of 1.92kg (4.2lb). It is characterized by its bulky shape and large, wedge-shaped bill. The male is unmistakable, with its black and white plumage and green nape. The female is a brown bird, but can still be readily distinguished from all ducks, except other eider species, on the basis of size and head shape. The drake's display call is a strange almost human-like "ah-ooo," while the hen utters hoarse quacks. The species is often readily approachable.
Flashes of white had me guessing that they were either buffleheads or eiders, both common off the coast of Maine... For the same reason, ducks such as common goldeneyes and mallards move to coastal waters in the winter.
Common eiders are the largest ducks in North America, seen mostly on saltwater ... Common goldeneyes and ring-necked ducks have solid black upper backs, whereas greater and lesser scaups are light gray on top.
The event succeeded, mostly ... But last weekend featured three trips in a row ... Nearly five times that many common and Arctic terns nest there. Large groups of baby common eiders swim close to their mothers and aunts along the shoreline ... Navy ... Capt ... Don’t.
A lot of people want to see a puffin, yet somehow never get around to it. Pity. These colorful clowns are adorable ...Sometimes a few common murres join them. Common eider chicks trail their mothers near shore. Common and Arctic terns patrol overhead ... ....
Play-fighting, one of the most common forms of social play in the world, is a good example ... Toomey describes a group of common eiders gliding down a river’s rapids and hurrying back to the spot from which they began to have another go.
The tundra looked snowy and sparse, dotted with small ponds, as I looked out the airplane window while landing in Churchill, Manitoba... 31, 2023 ... It was Halloween for the children of Churchill ... We saw snow buntings, common eiders, plover and a red fox.
Contributors began using the portal in 2015 to log water temperature and salinity data, note observations of important wildlife species—such as beluga and common eider ducks—and track the flow of contaminants through the food web.
Sea ducks tend to collect here by the hundreds, especially common eiders ... In southern Maine, common eiders, long-tailed ducks, buffleheads, loons and mergansers slosh back and forth through the channel into WellsHarbor on every tide.
They’re simply about counting what birds are present, common or not, in an attempt to document species range and populations ... A continuing multiyear trend was the dearth of bay ducks like scoters and common eiders.
They’re simply about counting what birds are present, common or not, in an attempt to document species range and populations ... A continuing multiyear trend was the dearth of bay ducks like scoters and common eiders.
The group spotted common, hooded and red-breasted mergansers, the common eider, a long-tailed duck, and a black scoter, as well as red-throated and common loons, among other birds.
Gloucester Times
08 Mar 2024
Gloucester Times
08 Mar 2024