Common Eider
The common eider is easy to spot: males are boldly black and white, while females are brown and camouflaged.
Facts about Common Eider
- Arctic
- Canada
- Greenland
- Iceland
- Jan Mayen
- Svalbard
- Europe
- Denmark
- England
- France
- Norway
- Scotland
Common Eider Quick Overview
Scientific Name: Somateria mollissima
Population: Estimated at close to 2 million globally
Regions: Arctic and North Atlantic coasts
Destinations: Jan Mayen, Iceland, Canada, Svalbard, Greenland, Denmark, France, Norway, England, Scotland
Average Length: Adult: Males: ~0.58–0.71 m (1.9–2.3 ft), Females: ~0.50–0.63 m (1.6–2.1 ft); Newborn: ~6–7 cm (0.2 ft)
Average Weight: Adult: Males: ~2.3–3.0 kg (5.1–6.6 lbs), Females: ~1.2–2.1 kg (2.6–4.6 lbs); Newborn: ~0.05 kg (50 g / 0.11 lbs)
Diet Habits: Primarily mussels, snails, crustaceans
Common Eider Classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Anseriformes
Family: Anatidae
Genus: Somateria
Species: Somateria mollissima
Common Eider Explorer Passport
English: Common Eider
Danish: Edderfugl
Chinese: 普通绒鸭
Swedish: Ejder
Finnish: Haahka
Norwegian: Ærfugl
Polish: Eider
Japanese: ホンケワタガモ
Spanish: Eider común
French: Eider à duvet
Questions Guests Ask About Common Eider
Where Does the Common Eider Duck Live?
The common eider duck is widespread across the Arctic, where it consistently breeds near the coast and frequently on small islands. With Albatros Expeditions, you can see a common eider flying in destinations from Canada and Greenland to Iceland, Svalbard, and northern Europe!
What Do They Look Like?
The common eider drake (male) in summer has a black stomach, tail, and wing tips, a white back, cream-coloured breast, and a large bright green nape, while the head is white with a black cap and a yellowish-green, wedge-shaped beak. In contrast, the female is mainly brown with numerous small black spots, a narrow white wing band, and a light tip to the beak.
How Big Is a Common Eider?
Considered one of the largest ducks in the Northern Hemisphere, the male can weigh up to 3 kg (6.6 lbs) and reach a length of 71 cm (2.3 ft). Females are smaller, weighing approximately 2 kg (4.6 lbs) and measuring up to 63 cm (2.1 ft) long.
What Do They Eat?
As an expert diving duck that usually feeds on the seabed, the common eider's diet consists mainly of animals such as crustaceans, snails, and especially mussels.
What’s the Difference Between a King Eider and a Common Eider?
These are two different species of sea ducks, and the most apparent difference is the king eider's unique colourful head with an orange shield on the bill, unlike the common eider, which has a longer, wedge-shaped bill. As for similarities between the two, they have salt-excreting glands over the eyes, from which they can expel excess salt absorbed from seawater, allowing them to digest it. As a consequence, these two species are among the most well-adapted to live in a marine environment.
What Are the Main Differences Between Males and Females?
The difference between the genders is immediately noticeable in the way their plumage differs from each other. Females are brown and speckled, which is ideal for hiding while incubating the eggs. As for the male common eider, it is colourful during the breeding season, with black, white, green, and cream tones.
Are They Able To Fly?
Yes, this species is capable of flying. Their flight is swift but characterised by relatively heavy and slow wing strokes for a duck.
Common eiders and walruses coexisting in harmony.
How Many of These 10 Common Eider Facts Did You Already Know?
Fact #1: The common eider can be found in areas from the Arctic to the North Atlantic coasts.
Fact #2: During summer, the common eiders moult all their flight feathers simultaneously and temporarily lose their ability to fly.
Fact #3: The male drakes are much less colourful and better camouflaged compared to the females.
Fact #4: They are listed as ‘Near Threatened’ by the IUCN.
Fact #5: Common eider threats include gulls (such as glaucous gull and great black-backed gulls), arctic foxes, and polar bears.
Fact #6: Female common eiders form colonies with as many as 100 chicks following her!
Fact #7: If you look closely, the male common eider's feather has an unexpected colour: green!
Fact #8: These birds are incredible divers when searching for food.
Fact #9: When incubating eggs, which usually last 25 days, females do not eat during this period.
Fact #10: They possess salt glands enabling them to drink saltwater.
Join on an Arctic adventure with Albatros Expeditions and witness the wonders of Arctic wildlife!
A mother with her adorable chicks happily swimming together.
Look how gracefully they soar above the chilly Arctic waters!
Male have green feathers!
Did you know that female common eiders spend more than 99% of their time on the nest caring for their chicks?
Can you tell whether these eiders are male or female?
Flying over the cold Arctic waters
Spot these fantastic eiders with our Ocean Albatros vessel!
Albatros Expeditions provides special offers for you to observe these animals in their natural habitat!
Spot them in Magdalenafjord!
Spot them in Smeerenberg!
Watch these eider flying in Smeerenburg!