Common Eider

Somateria mollissima

Females line their nests with soft down plucked from their own breast. In Iceland the down is still gathered by hand from nests after the ducklings leave.

Where to see it for real: Rafts of eiders float off rocky northern coasts all year.

Spot it in the game

Lives in the Sea cliffs habitat (North Atlantic coast, in summer).

Common Eider, Somateria mollissima — Photo: Yves Bas, CC BY 4.0, via iNaturalist. Cut out from the original photo.

Common Eider facts

Family: Ducks, geese and swans
Length: 24 in (60 cm)
Wingspan: 37 in (95 cm)
Weight: 4.4 lb (2 kg)
Diet: Mussels, crabs, sea urchins and other shellfish, swallowed whole.
Range: Northern coasts of North America, Europe and Siberia.
Nest: A hollow on the ground lined with soft down from the female's breast.
Song: Males give a soft, cooing "ah-OOO".
Active: at dawn, by day and at dusk
Status: Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List: close to qualifying as threatened.