Eider

Scientific name

     Somateria mollissima

     Gaelic name

     Colc

Physical Description

The Eider is a sea duck. It is the largest duck in the north hemisphere. It weighs an average of 1800 g (= 3 basket balls). It is as well the most numerous duck in the world.

Males have a black belly and a white back. Females have a mottled brown plumage.

Females have always darker colour than males because when they nest they can be hidden in the high grasses and nothing can disturb them or steal their eggs.

Feeding

Eiders feed by diving and take mussels, starfish, crabs, sea urchins... which is very surprising for a duck!

Behaviour

Eider spend their hole life at sea even during the winter. But females come back on shore for nesting.

They fly heavily and low over the sea.

Threats

The main predators of Eiders are large gulls. But humans are aa threat for them too, young eiders are collected commercially in Iceland and Shetland to make duvets.

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