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Common Eider

Somateria mollissima

Near Threatened

Flügelspannweite

56,0 cm

Gewicht

2042,8333333333333 g

Familie

Anatidae

Ordnung

Anseriformes

Über uns

The heaviest duck in the Northern Hemisphere (~2 kg), family Anatidae. Breeds colonially on rocky coasts and islands of the North Atlantic and Arctic. Dives for mussels and crustaceans in shallow marine waters. Females line nests with insulating down. Near Threatened due to recent declines in parts of its range from hunting and pollution.

Physical Description

Measurement	Value	Imperial
Flügelspannweite	56,0 cm	22.0 in
Gewicht	2042,8333333333333 g	72.06 oz

Identifizierung

Gefieder

Male is strikingly pied: white back, neck, and breast contrasting with black cap, belly, and flanks; nape washed pale lime-green. Female uniformly barred warm tawny-brown with darker streaks.

Habitat & Range

🌿 Feuchtgebiet 🏖️ Küste

Geografisches Verbreitungsgebiet

Breeds on Arctic and subarctic coasts from the North Atlantic to the Pacific. Winters along coasts of northwestern Europe and eastern North America.

Diet & Feeding

Dives for blue mussels, clams, and crustaceans in shallow coastal waters. Swallows shellfish whole and crushes them in the gizzard.

Erhaltungsstatus

Near Threatened

IUCN Red List

Verhalten & Brutverhalten

Nistverhalten

Nest type: CP. Incubation: 23-30 days. Fledging: 60-75 days.

Gelegegröße

2-7

Lautgebung

Gesang

Male produces a loud, resonant ah-WOOO cooing; female gives a deep, guttural quacking series. The male's iconic moaning call echoes across North Atlantic coastlines; a classic seaduck sound.

Taxonomie

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Aves
Ordnung	Anseriformes (Wasservögel)
Familie	Anatidae (Enten, Gänse und Schwäne)
Genus	Somateria
Arten	Somateria mollissima

Distribution

Common Eider has been recorded in 6 countries.

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Vorhanden Not recorded

countries highlighted

🇧🇪 Belgien 🇩🇰 Dänemark 🇳🇴 Norwegen 🇸🇪 Schweden 🇺🇦 Ukraine 🇺🇸 Vereinigte Staaten

External Databases

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What does the Common Eider eat?

Dives for blue mussels, clams, and crustaceans in shallow coastal waters. Swallows shellfish whole and crushes them in the gizzard.

Where does the Common Eider live?

Breeds on Arctic and subarctic coasts from the North Atlantic to the Pacific. Winters along coasts of northwestern Europe and eastern North America.

Is the Common Eider endangered?

The Common Eider has a conservation status of Near Threatened.

How does the Common Eider nest?

Nest type: CP. Incubation: 23-30 days. Fledging: 60-75 days.

What does the Common Eider sound like?

Male produces a loud, resonant ah-WOOO cooing; female gives a deep, guttural quacking series. The male's iconic moaning call echoes across North Atlantic coastlines; a classic seaduck sound.

How big is the Common Eider?

The Common Eider has a wingspan of 56.0 cm, weight of 2042.8333333333333 g.

What order and family does the Common Eider belong to?

The Common Eider (Somateria mollissima) belongs to the order Anseriformes and the family Anatidae.