Nature Atlas

How Nature Works
Sign In
Text size
100%
Theme

Switch Atlas

Specy

Common eider

Birds

The common eider is a large sea duck, 50 to 71 centimeters in body length, in the family Anatidae, distributed over the northern coasts of Europe, North America and eastern Siberia; it breeds in Arctic regions and winters farther south, and can fly at speeds up to 113 kilometers per hour. It is the largest of the four eider species: males show black and white plumage with a green nape, while females are brown, with a bulky body, a large wedge-shaped bill and a distinctive head shape; subspecies vary in bill color from yellowish-green to bright orange-yellow. Adults weigh 0.81 to 3.04 kilograms with a wingspan of 80 to 110 centimeters. The species is well known for its down, historically harvested for bedding, and the IUCN lists it as Near Threatened.

Facts
Scientific Name
Somateria mollissima 4
Conservation Status
Near Threatened 2
Body Size Band
Large 6
Activity Pattern
Diurnal 6
Lifespan
37.8 7
Classification
Diet
Insectivore 1
System (Realm)
Marine 2
Relationship to People
Hunted or Fished 3
Living or Extinct
Yes 4
Comparison
NatureServe Rank
G5 Secure 5
CITES Appendix
Not Listed 3
Connections

Child Taxon Of

Anatidae, Taxa
Source Common eider (Wikidata)

In Biome

Tundra, Biomes
Source Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology: Animal Diversity Web: Somateria mollissima
In the Other Atlases

Found In

Belgium

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Denmark

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

France

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Iceland

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Ireland

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

North America

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Norway

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Poland

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Spain

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Sweden

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Ukraine

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

United States

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Sources
1. EltonTraits 1.0 (Wilman et al. 2014)
  • Diet: Insectivore
2. Common eider (Wikipedia)
  • Conservation status (IUCN Red List category stated in entity description)
    nown for its down, historically harvested for bedding, and the IUCN lists it as Near Threatened.
  • Introduction
    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).
View the Source
3. Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology: Animal Diversity Web: Somateria mollissima
Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology
  • Conservation Status: CITES
    CITES No special status
  • Economic Importance for Humans
    Positive Impacts food food body parts are source of valuable material
  • In Biome: Tundra, Habitat Regions, biome: tundra
    tundra tundra
View the Source
4. Common eider (Wikidata)
Wikidata
  • Wikidata Q26696 (P225 taxon name)
  • Statements section, conservation status (P141)
    IUCN Red List conservation status (Wikidata property P141): near threatened.
  • Child Taxon Of: Anatidae, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chain
View the Source
5. NatureServe Explorer: Somateria mollissima
NatureServe ExplorerGlobal rank (roundedGRank)
Quote, Global rank (roundedGRank)
"roundedGRank": "G5"
View the Source
6. Ecological Society of America, Ecological Archives E095-178 (Wilman et al. 2014): EltonTraits 1.0 bird functional traits (BirdFuncDat)
Ecological Society of America, Ecological Archives E095-178 (Wilman et al. 2014)
  • Row: somateria mollissima
    740 Nonpasseriformes Anseriformes Anatidae "Ducks, geese and swans" 14 BL3 Somateria mollissima Common Eider 70 0 0 10 0 0 10 0 0 10 Invertebrate Ref_1 A Jennifer 80 20 0 0 0 0 0 0 Ref_1 1 Jessica 0 2060.93 Dunning08 1
  • BirdFuncDat.txt row Somateria mollissima, Nocturnal column
    Somateria mollissima Common Eider 70 0 0 10 0 0 10 0 0 10 Invertebrate Ref_1 A Jennifer 80 20 0 0 0 0 0 0 Ref_1 1 Jessica 0
View the Source
7. Human Ageing Genomic Resources, University of Liverpool: AnAge entry for Somateria mollissima
Human Ageing Genomic Resources, University of LiverpoolLifespan, ageing, and relevant traits
Quote, Lifespan, ageing, and relevant traits
Maximum longevity 37.8 years (wild)
View the Source
Comments (0)
No comments yet. Be the first to share a thought.
Reader Challenges (0)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.