Common Eider
Somateria mollissima
A large sea duck of northern coasts, the Common Eider lives around rocky shores, islands, and cold marine waters. It dives to feed mostly on mussels, clams, crabs, sea urchins, and other bottom-dwelling invertebrates, swallowing many prey whole and crushing shells in its gizzard. Females nest on the ground and line the nest with exceptionally warm down plucked from their own breast. This down has long been valued by people for insulation, making eiders one of the best-known wild ducks associated with traditional down collection.
- Type
- Water
- Conservation status
- NT
Growth chain
- ?
- Common Eider