The Spectacled Eider: A Unique Arctic Sea Duck
The Spectacled Eider ( Somateria Fischeri ) is a large sea-duck that breeds along the coasts in Alaska and northern Siberia. The Spectacled Eider is named after the large, white “spectacles”, which surround its eyes. This distinguishes them from other marine birds. For more information, see our guide on invertebrates.
These ducks, when not nesting in the Arctic, spend the majority of the year eating bottom-dwelling crustaceans and mollusks. These ducks migrate to deep water in the winter, and often congregate in large flocks at openings of sea ice.
Unlike most sea ducks, Spectacled Eiders seem to stay in a small area and are vulnerable during the molting period as they can’t fly away. The Spectacled Eiders use large, long cracks where water flows to migrate.
The U.S. population consists of approximately 3,000 to 4,000 nesting couples.
Historically, Spectacled Eiders nestled along a large part of Alaska’s coast, from the Nushagak peninsula in the southwest to Barrow and east to Canada, as well as along a large portion of the Arctic Coast of Russia. Climate change and oil and natural gas development has drastically reduced the habitat of Spectacled Eiders. The western Alaskan population fell by 96 per cent between 1957 and 1992.
Oil and gas development near and around Teshekpuk Lake – a bird area of international significance – could threaten the future of the Spectacled Eider. The proposed legislation by Representative Doc Hastings to drill in Alaska’s National Petroleum Reserve could lead to the extinction of the Spectacled Eider.
Oil spills in Arctic sea ice are a threat to the Spectacled Eider. There is no way of effectively cleaning up an oil spill.
Physical Appearance
Male Spectacled Eiders are known for their colorful, dramatic plumage. Adult males have a stunning contrast of colors, with a white belly and a dark brownish black back. Their heads are a bright pale greenish color. What really makes them stand out are the white patches that surround their eyes. This “spectacle pattern” is what gives them its name. According to Audubon Society, this species is well documented.
The color of females and young males is more muted. Their camouflaged or brownish appearance helps them blend in with their surroundings, especially during nesting. Subdued colors are an adaptation that helps the females protect themselves while they care for their eggs and young. According to Cornell Lab of Ornithology, this species is well documented.
Breeding & Nesting
During the summer breeding period, Spectacled Eiders nest in the tundra. In their Arctic habitat, they prefer to nest close to water sources like ponds and marshes. Males perform certain behaviors and display their vibrant plumage to attract females during courtship. After a female has chosen a mate she will carefully protect a nest in which she lays a clutch. The mother ducklings are led to the water by the mother after the eggs hatch. They begin learning how to survive and forage.
Diet
Spectacled eiders have adapted their feeding habits to coastal waters as they are sea ducks. They eat mainly benthic animals, including mollusks and marine worms. These animals dive up to 10 meters to locate food along the seafloor. They are strong swimmers, and they make excellent divers because of their ability to hunt for food below the surface.
Habitat
The Spectacled Eider is native to the Arctic coast, especially along the coasts in Alaska and the Russian Far East. Most commonly, they are found in shallow water, such as estuaries, tidal plains and coastal areas where they can dive to find food and shelter. To avoid the Arctic cold, they migrate to warmer waters in the winter. This includes the Bering sea and some parts of the Aleutian islands.
Conservation Status
The Spectacled Eider is a beautiful species but it also faces significant threats. The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists the Spectacled Eider as a Near-Threatened specie. The decline in population has been linked to habitat destruction, climate change and human activity within their breeding and feeding grounds. These birds are at risk from oil spills, industrial development, and pollution.
Climate change is affecting the Arctic region and putting the breeding habitats of the Spectacled Eider at greater risk. Furthermore, warming temperatures and shifting patterns of ice could also affect the availability and quality of food in breeding grounds and wintering grounds.
Fun Facts…
- During the summer, Spectacled Eiders will “dabble”, or search for food in shallow waters like a Mallard. In the winter they become deep-sea diving birds, swimming up to 250 feet under the surface of the ocean in order to retrieve clams, invertebrates, and other sea creatures.
- Until the early 1990s, nobody knew where Spectacled Eiders molted or spent the winter. Scientists from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service fitted satellite transmitters and tracked birds using aircraft. The birds were found to be congregating around ice-free zones in the Bering Sea, Chukchi Sea, and Beaufort Sea.
- Conflicts between males of Spectacled Eiders are rare. They are less territorial than some other waterfowl. Conflicts can occur with other species of geese such as Cackling Geese or Emperor Geese when eiders nest on islands that also house geese.
- During a banding mission in Alaska, the oldest Spectacled Eider was 18 years old.
Why Conservation Matters
The Spectacled Eider’s survival is vital not only for its own species, but also for the Arctic ecosystem as a whole. Like many Arctic species, the survival of Spectacled Eiders is closely linked to their environment. To ensure the survival of these magnificent birds, conservation efforts are vital. This includes protecting nesting sites and reducing the impact humans have on their habitats.
