How to Identify North American Eider Ducks

Eiders are some of the largest sea ducks in North America. There are four species, which include the king, spectacled, common and Steller's. Eiders are found mainly along the northern coastlines, except during breeding season, when they head for fresh sandy water. Here's how to identify the North American eider ducks.

Instructions

    • 1

      Observe the head and bill of the North American eiders. The bill has a hump, and the feather pattern comes out further at the base. The duck's profile has more of a slope instead of the rounded profile of most ducks.

    • 2

      Notice the body. Eiders are a large species with a stocky, round body and a thick neck. All four species of males are easy to identify by their black and white markings and areas of vivid colors. The females are mostly brown with black stripes and mottling and are usually identified by the shape of their head and bill.

    • 3

      Look for the specific markings for each species of eider. The common eider is the only one with a black cap which goes to the forehead and around the eye. The body is white except for the belly, sides and rump, which are black. The king eider is distinguished from other male eiders by his red bill and orange lobe, blue-gray head and green markings on his cheeks. His back is black and his chest is white. The spectacled eider has a black chest, a pale green head and spectacle-looking patches around his eyes, which have pale blue irises. The Steller's eider has a white head with a black spot behind each ear with pale green coloring on the back of his head. His underbelly is orange, and his bill is blue.

    • 4

      Watch the North American eider as it migrates. They fly in long lines, side by side, and stay low over the water. They live in northern sea waters during the winter and migrate to their nesting grounds in the spring when the sea ice begins to thaw.