Baby Birdorable: Common Eider

If you think our Birdorable birds are cute as adults, what about when they are babies? Below are some baby photos (shared via Flickr) of the Common Eider. Common Eiders line their nests with fine, soft down. The eggs are incubated for about 25 days and the baby ducks leave the nest within about 24 hours of hatching. The babies can dive for food on their own after about an hour in the water! Young families may form crèches consisting of several mother/chick groups together for feeding.

Common Eider nest - 2010-07-06 - Bathurst Inlet
Common Eider nest - 2010-07-06 - Bathurst Inlet by Blake Maybank
Eider_chick_1806
Eider_chick_1806 by Mikko Vihtakari
Common eider ducklings
Common eider ducklings by GZA1970
Common Eiders (Somateria mollissima)
Common Eiders (Somateria mollissima) by Frode Jacobsen
Common eider duckling
Common eider duckling by GZA1970
baby eider ducks
baby eider ducks by headharbourlight
Common Eider ducklings.
Common Eider ducklings. by birdyearken
baby eider ducks
baby eider ducks by headharbourlight
Common Eider Chick
Common Eider Chick by Eleanor Briccetti
2009 Norway / Noorwegen 090613 01
2009 Norway / Noorwegen 090613 01 by rob.bremer

Pretty cute, right? Be sure to check out our Birdorable Common Eider t-shirts and gifts!

Comments

Ashira on March 21, 2011 at 3:16 PM wrote:
Eiders are lovely! Their head shape is so unique and majestic. : D
Ashira on March 22, 2011 at 3:21 PM wrote:
Ooh - and by the way, I have that feather identified - the one you linked to through Twitter. ^^ It's a guinea-fowl feather.
Anne - Mommy Has to Work on March 23, 2011 at 9:19 PM wrote:
such sweet picuters! Cute ducks!
Birdorable on March 24, 2011 at 12:16 PM wrote:
Ashira, very cool that you could ID that feather! Thanks for letting us know - we were really curious. :)
Ashira on March 24, 2011 at 10:08 PM wrote:
No problem. c: I've got a few of my own, and they're common to see in decorations and jewellery if you're looking for them. ^___^
abigail on June 10, 2011 at 2:03 PM wrote:
So cute! Eiders have very wierd shaped beaks though.
Jenna on July 27, 2011 at 9:43 AM wrote:
those eiders are very cute...they do have funny beaks!
bonnie on July 25, 2012 at 11:21 AM wrote:
i got one of these baby ducks my friend found it in a boat junk yard and we do not no what to feed it besides started duck food
Birdorable on July 25, 2012 at 11:34 AM wrote:
Bonnie, the best thing to do is to call a licensed wildlife rehabilitator to ask about your duckling. If you are in the U.S., keep in mind that native birds are protected and you can't raise them without proper permits. A licensed rehabber will be able to help the duckling and hopefully release it back into the wild where it belongs. :)
Louise Warner on February 15, 2017 at 12:09 PM wrote:
the eider duck (common eider) is a common sight in Europe and Asia.also common in northern Canada.soon they come down to Scandinavia.
Birder on December 21, 2020 at 5:32 PM wrote:
So the Male is closer to the neck is yellow, cap on top and body is black, beak is orange white feathers and gray feet. But the female is just brown and also the same feet like the male is gray.

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