drake; bold black-and-white plumage (Northern Ireland; 2008-09-14)


Common Eider
Somateria mollissima

Native Range: North America and Eurasia

Notes: eiders are large-bodied, high-latitude sea ducks that are expert surface divers for food; as its name implie, this is the commonest of several eider species; strong sexual dimorphism

drake standing; sturdy bill, body, and legs (Northern Ireland; 2008-09-14)
black on wings, crown, and rear (Norway; 2009-05-26)

pea-green patch behind head when breeding (Norway; 2009-05-26)
juvenile or eclipse-plumage bird yawning (Northern Ireland; 2008-09-14)

drake in eclipse plumage (Northern Ireland; 2008-09-14)
juvenile or perhaps an eclipse male (Norway; 2009-05-26)

hen; mottled chocolate-brown plumage (Norway; 2009-05-26)
hen in somewhat lighter plumage (Northern Ireland; 2008-09-14)

juvenile in first-spring plumage (Norway; 2009-05-26)
juvenile drake with hen trailing behind (Norway; 2009-05-26)