King Eider - Ross Feldner

Some birds are sleek and fast. Some birds are exquisitely colored. And some birds are just wow that’s crazy looking.

The King Eider is a large, ornately costumed sea duck that nests in the artic tundra and visits Southern Alaska and the New England shores during nonbreeding time.

Their spring migration involves massive flocks sometimes numbering over 100,000 strong. At the northernmost tip of land in the US, two observers counted 360,00 passing by in a mere 10 hours.

The King Eider's foraging strategies change depending on the season. During the breeding season, it does more of its foraging on freshwater lakes and ponds, where it dabbles, feeding primarily on small invertebrates plucked from the surface of the water. It also feeds on mollusks, crustaceans like king crabs, and on sea urchins, starfish and sea anemones.

Its nest is usually near water and lined with vegetation and down feathers from the female.

King Eider’s diving abilities are spectacular. It can feed in depths of 200 feet of frigid water, actually reaching the ocean floor and remain underwater longer than any other duck except the Oldsquaw.

It’s courting ritual involves the male pushing out its chest and uttering a low, hollow, quavering moan in a crescendo of “broo broooo brOOOOO broo”. The nearby female responds with a low, wooden “gogogogogo.”