Fauna
Bird

King Eider

Somateria spectabilis

Also known as King Duck

King eiders are heavy-bodied Arctic sea ducks renowned for the breeding male's striking orange head shield, powder-blue crown, and greenish cheek patches. Females are warm brown with subtle chevron markings, expertly camouflaged against tundra mosses where they nest in open ground scrapes. These deep-diving waterfowl spend most of the year in turbulent coastal marine waters, assembling in massive spring flocks before migrating inland to breed.

WaterfowlArcticMigratory
King Eider reference1 / 7
(c) Сергей Неклюдов, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyMussels, Crabs, Sea Urchins
Predators
  • Arctic Fox
  • Glaucous Gull
  • Polar Bear
ThreatsClimate change, offshore oil development, pollution, unsustainable harvest
HabitatsArctic tundra, coastal marine waters, estuaries, open sea ice leads
Life span10–20 years
Classification
  1. FamilyAnatidae
  2. SpeciesSomateria spectabilis
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Safe to observe at a respectful distance.
What to notice
Recognize females by their warm brown barred plumage and secretive, motionless stance in low tundra vegetation near water.
Support conservation
Keep at least one hundred meters away from potential nesting territory in June and July to avoid displacing birds.
Responsible observation
  • Scanning Flocks: Look for bright male head shields along open leads in sea ice during spring migration.
  • Distance at Nests: Avoid walking through tundra nesting habitat to prevent flushing incubating hens.
  • Offshore Optics: Use a spotting scope to scan distant coastal waters where large rafts gather.
Related species
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