Eider

Somateria mollissima
Ducks and geese (Anatidae)

♀ ♂

CC-BY 2.0 rights : Putneypics

Large diving duck, the ♂ with a white back and wing base, black wing tips, belly, tail and cap. The beak is yellowish and there is a brown-green neck marking. While breeding the white is clearly visible, outside breeding season it becomes greyish due to small black feathers. The ♀ is brown with thin black and white lines, the beak is shaped differently but that is easy to miss since the beak is dark coloured.

They dive to find their food below the surface, such as crabs and clams. Mostly found in groups. Their call is loud and while courting both sexes can be heard.

⇔ l. ♀ 56 cm, ♂ 62 cm

There are several subspecies with minor differences in colours. Partly migratory from Scandinavia they winter in central and west Europe.

LA:
≈ The CLANGULA HYEMALIS (Long-tailed duck) is much smaller with a rounder head and smaller beak.

Where?

Family(37)

WWW info

Continu searching

Size

Shape

Colour

Legs

Beak

Neck

Tail

Habitat