King Eider
| Geographical Range | Arctic coasts of northeastern Europe, North America, Asia |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Tundra ponds, lakes, seacoasts, open ocean |
| Scientific Name | Somateria spectabilis |
| Conservation Status | Common |
King eiders are spectacular-looking ducks. The males sport brilliant slate blue and yellow head feathers and a reddish-orange beak that sweeps upward into a large orange knob outlined in black. Their body feathers are primarily black and cream. These striking colors serve to attract the less showy females, who are handsome in their own right, though more drably colored. After breeding season, the males' bright colors fade somewhat.
Eiders are sea ducks, relying on the ocean depths for their food. They plunge into cold ocean waters in search of mussels, crabs and aquatic insects.