Common Eider
Somateria mollissima
Silhouette: Rebecca Groom · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderAnseriformes (Waterfowl)
- FamilyAnatidae (Ducks, Geese, and Swans)
- GenusSomateria (Typical Eiders)
- SpeciesSomateria mollissima (Common Eider)
About the Common Eider
The common eider (pronounced ) (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).
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, typically being marketed as luxury goods, eiderdown harvesting continues and is sustainable, as it can be done after the ducklings leave the nest with no harm to the birds.
The common eider was formally named by the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus in 1758 in the tenth edition of his Systema Naturae. He placed it with all the other ducks in the genus Anas and coined the... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Common Eider in Acadia National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Acadia National Park
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos
Canada Goose
Branta canadensis
American Black Duck
Anas rubripes
Red-breasted Merganser
Mergus serrator
Black Scoter
Melanitta americana
Long-tailed Duck
Clangula hyemalis
Bufflehead
Bucephala albeola
Surf Scoter
Melanitta perspicillata
American White-winged Scoter
Melanitta deglandi
Wood Duck
Aix sponsa
Common Merganser
Mergus merganser
Common Goldeneye
Bucephala clangula
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vatnajokull National Park | 🇮🇸 Iceland | |
| 2 | Acadia National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 3 | Wadden Sea National Park | 🇩🇪 Germany | |
| 4 | Cape Breton Highlands National Park | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 5 | Gros Morne National Park | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 6 | Snowdonia National Park | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | |
| 7 | Katmai National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 8 | Thingvellir National Park | 🇮🇸 Iceland | |
| 9 | Cairngorms National Park | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | |
| 10 | Kenai Fjords National Park | 🇺🇸 United States |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Common Eider in Acadia National Park?
About 40% of wildlife watchers report a Common Eider sighting in Acadia National Park, based on 7,222 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Common Eider in Acadia National Park?
December has the highest sighting rate for Common Eider in Acadia National Park in our monthly data.