Birds › Ducks, Geese, and Swans
Common Eider
Somateria mollissima
28 photos
Study shows up to four per card, from different observers, so you learn the species rather than one picture. Heart the good ones and swap any you do not like.
Photos you add are credited to you, and you keep the copyright.
Sounds
- Recording by Doug Hynes (XC1033167). CC-BY-SA · Source
Easily confused with
MallardAnas platyrhynchos
King EiderSomateria spectabilis
American Black DuckAnas rubripes
White-winged ScoterMelanitta deglandi
Long-tailed DuckClangula hyemalis
Surf ScoterMelanitta perspicillata
Common MurreUria aalge
Common MerganserMergus merganser
Study checks a spoken answer against these, and tells you which one you named.
Where it is recorded
| United States | 2,457,363 |
|---|---|
| New York | 41,467 |
| Connecticut | 25,255 |
| New Jersey | 16,484 |
| Maryland | 7,247 |
| Canada | 5,333 |
| Massachusetts | 4,817 |
| Manitoba | 4,481 |
| Maine | 3,452 |
| Ontario | 2,772 |
Counts show where people looked, not only where it lives.
Traits
Behavioral
- MigratoryTravels long distances seasonallyFrom its classification
Group and habits
- Cup nestingListed by a harvested source as building cup nests.BIRDBASE avian traits database
- Invertebrate eaterListed by a harvested source as primarily eating invertebrates.BIRDBASE avian traits database
- Ground nestingListed by a harvested source as nesting on the ground.BIRDBASE avian traits database
- Brood-parasite hostListed by a harvested source as a host of brood parasites.BIRDBASE avian traits database
Classification
| Kingdom | Animals · Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Chordates · Chordata |
| Class | Birds · Aves |
| Order | Waterfowl · Anseriformes |
| Family | Ducks, Geese, and Swans · Anatidae |
| Genus | Typical Eiders · Somateria |
Study it in a deck
- Birds of British Columbia, Canada
- Birds of Ontario
- Birds of Pennsylvania (Alkas)
- Birds of Pennsylvania, United States
- Birds of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Birds of United States
Or build your own from the species near you.
Sources
- Names, taxonomy and observation counts: www.inaturalist.org
- Photos and recordings: the creator and source are on each one.
- Traits: BIRDBASE avian traits database (CC BY 4.0)
- How much to rely on each source
Remember the name next time.
Practise Common Eider with real photos from different observers and its recordings. Say the name out loud, and it comes back just before you would forget it.