King Eider

The king eider, Somateria spectabilis, is a large and robust sea duck, celebrated for its striking appearance. Males are particularly resplendent with their black bodies, white breasts tinged with buff, and multicoloured heads. The head is adorned with a pale bluish grey hue, while the cheeks boast a delicate pale green. A red bill, crowned with a white nail and a prominent yellow knob, is set off by a thin black line from the face. The male's regal bearing is further accentuated by the curved "spurs" of some tertials along the back. Females, often referred to colloquially as "queen eiders," are clad in warm brown plumage, with blackish chevrons on the upperparts and flanks, and fine black streaks on the head and neck. Both sexes exhibit a wingspan of 86–102 cm, with males typically outweighing females.

Identification Tips

The male king eider is unmistakable in breeding plumage, while the female is discernible by her buffy bill base and eye ring, which extends into a stripe behind the eye. Juveniles are greyish brown, with young males taking three years to achieve the full splendour of adult plumage.

Habitat

King eiders inhabit a variety of tundra habitats along the Arctic coasts for breeding, and they winter in arctic and subarctic marine areas, often forming large flocks on coastal waters.

Distribution

This circumpolar species breeds on the Arctic coasts of Alaska, Canada, Greenland, Svalbard, and Russia. In winter, it can be found in the Bering Sea, the west coast of Greenland, eastern Canada, and northern Norway, with annual occurrences off the northeastern United States, Scotland, and Kamchatka.

Behaviour

King eiders exhibit seasonal foraging strategies, diving for benthic invertebrates at sea and dabbling for small invertebrates in freshwater during the breeding season. They are known to feed on a variety of marine life, including mollusks, crustaceans, sea urchins, starfish, and sea anemones.

Song & Calls

The male's song is a quavering coo, reminiscent of a dove, while the female communicates with an array of low clucks, grunts, and growls.

Breeding

Females construct scrape nests lined with vegetation and down, laying clutches of 2–7 eggs. Incubation lasts 22 to 23 days, and the young are collectively raised by the females.

Similar Species

The king eider can be confused with other eider species, but its distinctive plumage and bill characteristics set it apart.

Diet and Feeding

King eiders have a varied diet that changes with the seasons, including mollusks, crustaceans, and other marine invertebrates.

Conservation status

The king eider is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, with a large population and extensive range. However, it is subject to predation by glaucous gulls, common ravens, parasitic jaegers, and Arctic foxes.

Longevity

The longest-lived known king eider was a female who reached at least 18 years and 11 months of age.