Common eider

Common eider
Adult male, breeding plumage
Female
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Anseriformes
Family: Anatidae
Genus: Somateria
Species:
S. mollissima
Binomial name
Somateria mollissima
Subspecies
Range of S. mollissima
  Breeding range
  Wintering/Feeding range
Synonyms

Anas mollissima Linnaeus, 1758

Common eiders (Somateria mollissima) in the breeding season on Texel, the Netherlands.

The common eider (pronounced /ˈ.dər/) (Somateria mollissima), also called St. Cuthbert's duck or Cuddy's duck, is a large (50–71 cm (20–28 in) in body length) sea-duck that is distributed over the northern coasts of Europe, North America and eastern Siberia. It breeds in Arctic and some northern temperate regions, but winters somewhat farther south in temperate zones, when it can form large flocks on coastal waters. It can fly at speeds up to 113 km/h (70 mph).[2]

The eider's nest is built close to the sea and is lined with eiderdown, plucked from the female's breast. This soft and warm lining has long been harvested for filling pillows and quilts, but in more recent years has been largely replaced by down from domestic farm-geese and synthetic alternatives. Although eiderdown pillows or quilts are now a rarity, eiderdown harvesting continues and is sustainable, as it can be done after the ducklings leave the nest with no harm to the birds.

  1. ^ BirdLife International (2018). "Somateria mollissima". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T22680405A132525971. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22680405A132525971.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference birds-speed was invoked but never defined (see the help page).