common eider
Quick Summary
The common eider (Somateria mollissima) is a large sea duck found in the cold far north. These birds are characterized by their heavy, round bodies and humped bills, giving them a distinctive sloping profile.12
Eiders are notable for producing eiderdown, a warm and soft material. The female plucks down feathers from her breast to line her nest and cover her eggs, protecting them from the cold. This eiderdown is highly valued for use as filling in items like jackets, pillows, quilts, and sleeping bags. While females are mottled brown, males (drakes) are more strikingly patterned, often with white and black plumage and a unique green pigment on their heads. The common eider breeds along icy coasts and winters at sea in northern regions.12
Ask Britannica AI about this topic
Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.
anseriformImportance to humans…of the common eider (Somateria mollissima). Its breeding colonies in the Arctic and subarctic are protected and concentrated by the provision of nest sites and other techniques. The down with which the female lines her nest and covers the eggs is systematically collected during and after incubation without disturbance…
Read More…of the common eider (Somateria mollissima). Its breeding colonies in the Arctic and subarctic are protected and concentrated by the provision of nest sites and other techniques. The down with which the female lines her nest and covers the eggs is systematically collected during and after incubation without disturbance…
Read More- anseriformReproductive behaviour
…as the common eider (Somateria mollissima), she apparently fasts during the four-week period. Her resulting constipation may be the cause of the extremely evil-smelling feces that she splashes over the clutch if suddenly flushed from it. This was once thought to deter predators, but experiments have not confirmed this.…
Read More…as the common eider (Somateria mollissima), she apparently fasts during the four-week period. Her resulting constipation may be the cause of the extremely evil-smelling feces that she splashes over the clutch if suddenly flushed from it. This was once thought to deter predators, but experiments have not confirmed this.…
Read More
