- Spectacled Eider
Taxobox
name = Spectacled Eider
status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1
image_width = 200px
image_caption = Male (front) and female (rear)
regnum =Animal ia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo =Anseriformes
familia =Anatidae
genus = "Somateria "
species = "S. fischeri"
binomial = "Somateria fischeri"
binomial_authority = (Brandt,1847 )The Spectacled Eider ("Somateria fischeri") is a large sea duck, which breeds on the coasts of
Alaska and northeasternSiberia .The lined nest is built on tundra close to the sea, and 5–9 eggs are laid. This species dives for
crustacean s andmollusc s. The winter range is poorly known, but satellite tracking has led to observations of large flocks of the birds about 100 km southwest of St. Lawrence Island in the Bering Sea during March-April. This area has large populations of bivalves in the underlying sediments at depths of about 60 m that the ducks dive to feed on.The Spectacled Eider is slightly smaller than the
Common Eider at 52–57cm in length. The male is unmistakable with its black body, white back, and yellow-green head with the large circular white eye patches which give the species its name. The drake's call is a weak crooning, and the female's a harsh croak.The female is a rich brown
bird , but can still be readily distinguished from allduck s except othereider species on size and structure. The paler goggles are visible with a reasonable view, and clinch identification. Immature birds and eclipse adult drakes are similar to the female.The binomial commemorates the German scientist
Johann Fischer von Waldheim .References
* Database entry includes a lengthy justification of why this species is of least concern
* "Wildfowl" by Madge and Burn, ISBN 0-7470-2201-1
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
