Photo: ALAN SCHMIERER / CC0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Spectacled Eider
Somateria fischeri
Spectacled Eider (Somateria fischeri) — Ducks, Geese & Swans of North America.
Found across 12 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Spectacled Eider (Somateria fischeri) is a member of the Anatidae family found in Europe & Northern Asia and North America. Adults weigh 1.6 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Close to qualifying for a threatened category in the near future.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Anseriformes
- Family Anatidae Ducks, Geese, Swans
- Genus Somateria
- Species fischeri
Where it lives
North-central, northeastern Siberia from Lena Delta to Chukotka; western, northern Alaska in Yukon Delta and Arctic Coastal Plain
Quick facts
- Weight
- 1.6 kg
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Anatidae
- Order
- Anseriformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Near Threatened
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Spectacled Eider hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of coastal habitats, it swims and feeds in and around water.
Migration
The Spectacled Eider is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Spectacled Eider (Somateria fischeri) is a member of the Anatidae family, within the order Anseriformes. It is found across Europe & Northern Asia and North America. Its distribution covers NA, PAL nc, ne Siberia from Lena Delta to Chukotka; w, n Alaska in Yukon Delta and Arctic Coastal Plain.
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 1.6 kg, with a wing length of about 24.6 cm and a tail of around 6.4 cm.
The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened. That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 1.1 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Spectacled Eider?
The Spectacled Eider is a very large bird that weighs around 1.6 kg.
Where does the Spectacled Eider live?
The Spectacled Eider is found across Europe & Northern Asia and North America with a range covering NA, PAL nc, ne Siberia from Lena Delta to Chukotka; w, n Alaska in Yukon Delta and Arctic Coastal Plain, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Spectacled Eider belong to?
The Spectacled Eider (Somateria fischeri) belongs to the Anatidae family, in the order Anseriformes.
What does the Spectacled Eider eat?
The Spectacled Eider hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Spectacled Eider migrate?
The Spectacled Eider is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Spectacled Eider endangered?
The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.
What sound does the Spectacled Eider make?
1 real field recording of the Spectacled Eider — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Spectacled Eider's range?
The Spectacled Eider has a mapped global range of about 1.1 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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