Page 113 - Complete Birds of Britain and Europe (DK - RSPB)

WILDFOWL
Order Anseriformes Family Anatidae Species Somateria mollissima
Eider wedge-
shaped
head
and bill
IMMATURE
white
patch on black crown closely barred
brown body
rear flank
MALE long, wedge-
shaped head dark
dark hind- with green patch belly
wings
wedge-
white shaped bill
upperparts
pinkish
FEMALE breast
FEMALE
IN FLIGHT
black unbarred
underparts dark body

MALE
(WINTER)
MALE (SUMMER)
n entirely marine
Abird, the Eider is highly
sociable and often seen in large rafts offshore. FLIGHT: heavy, low, straight but fast, with deep,
It is, however, equally familiar as a tame duck around coastal rocks steady wingbeats.
and bays. Female Eiders with young in summer are easy to identify
and so are spring males, calling and displaying, in northern harbours.
In a few areas, flocks of Eiders remain all year but make no attempt
to nest.These groups show remarkable fidelity to certain sites.
VOICE Male has sensuous,
cooing aa-ahooh; female deep
growls and kok-kok-kok.
NESTING Down-lined hollow
on ground, exposed or well
hidden; 4–6 eggs; 1 brood;
April–June.
FEEDING Dives from surface MALE FLOCK FEMALE AT NEST
to take crabs, shellfish, shrimps, Large flocks of male Eiders gather offshore in The Eider makes a down-lined nest near water, often
and starfish. estuaries and bays. openly, on which the female sits tight to incubate.
SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRENCE
Breeds in N Great Britain, Iceland,
VELVET SCOTER 32 and Scandinavia, on low-lying
similar to 3winter in flight;
see p.113 coasts and islands with rocky
shores and weedy bays. Winters
white patch
on open on sea south to W France, with
wing large flocks in sandy bays and over
mussel beds. Very rare inland.
slimmer bill
MALLARD 2 Seen in the UK
similar to 2; see p.101 J F M A M JJ A S O N D
Length 50–71cm (20–28in) Wingspan 80–108cm (32–43in) Weight 1.2–2.8kg (2 3 ⁄4 –6 1 ⁄4lb)
Social Large flocks Lifespan 10–15 years Status Secure
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