The King Eider is a large species of sea duck that breeds around Arctic waters in both the New World and Old World. These hardy birds spend most of their time at sea, only coming to land for breeding and raising chicks.
Male King Eiders in breeding plumage have a lot going on – they’re impossible to misidentify. From their pale blue crown and nape, to the iridescent light green cheeks, to the dapper black and buffy white body plumage, they stand out in a crowd (or a flock). In addition, the black-framed yellow-orange frontal lobe and ornamental triangles formed by special wing feathers make summer males extraordinary to see.
King Eiders feed on aquatic invertebrates, utilizing both diving and dabbling foraging techniques, depending the time of year and habitat.
2020 Bonanza Bird #30: King Eider
Today the second of our three “kings” joins Birdorable in the lead-up to Christmas. The King Eider is a large species of sea duck found in both the Old and New World.
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