Eider

Eider

Somateria mollissima

IUCN Status:Near Threatened

What do they look like?

The eider is the largest and heaviest sea duck in Europe. The males are very dapper, as if in bright black and white evening wear, while females can appear a little dowdy in mottled brown - a colouring more practical for camouflage when sitting on eggs. Eiders are sociable animals and can be quite noisy when together in groups.

A male black and white eider duck on water tips its head back to display its puffed-out chest. With a white face, neck and top of back and a black head and underside, it looks a little like its wearing a tuxedo. Very smart.
Male eider duck Image credit: Georg Wietschorke
A female eider duck in brown flecked plumage. Looking not dissimilar to a female mallard but with a longer beak, the females are plain compared to the black and white male.
Female eider duck Image credit: Valentin Hintikka
A male black and white eider duck looks right at the camera. With a white face, neck and top and a black head and underside, it looks a little like it's wearing a tuxedo and is a large duck. It's bill is bright orange/yellow and its feet are yellow.
Image credit: Georg Wietschorke

Where can they be found?

Resident populations are more common in the North of the UK. Close to the shore, bobbing about in the waves.

Did you know... Non-breeding females will often join mothers and their ducklings in the water to form a creche and help protect them from predators such as gulls and foxes.

Key facts

Their soft, warm down is used for pillows and quilts, which led to their population decline in the 1800's. Eiders are also known as cuddy ducks, after the Anglo-Saxon monk St Cuthbert, who had a soft spot for them.

They have a really distinctive call - making an "A-woooo" sound while they stretch their neck upwards to the sky.

Also known as Cuddy ducks
IUCN status Near Threatened
Length 50-71cm with a 80-108cm wingspan
Weight 1.2-2.8kg
Speed and distance Despite being on the heavy side for a bird, they can fly at surprisingly fast speeds of around 50-60mph.
Habitat Shorelines
Diet This seabird enjoys a seafood diet of mussels, clams, sea snails, crustaceans, small fish and even spiky sea urchins.
Age lifespan As well as being one of the heaviest birds, eiders also have one of the longest lifespans of around 20-25 years.
A male black and white eider duck on water tips its head back to display its puffed-out chest. With a white face, neck and top of back and a black head and underside, it looks a little like its wearing a tuxedo. Very smart.

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