Facts about Common Eider

1. 07

   In winter, common eiders form rafts of thousands of individuals on coastal waters to conserve body heat and improve predator detection through collective vigilance.

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2. 06

   Pairs of common eiders form monogamous bonds that last throughout the breeding season, with males defending territories around their mates during courtship displays.

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3. 05

   Clutches of common eiders typically contain four to five eggs, which the female incubates alone for approximately 28 to 30 days before hatching.

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4. 04

   Arctic breeding populations of common eiders migrate over 3,000 miles annually between their northern nesting grounds and southern wintering waters.

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5. 03

   Down feathers from common eiders have been harvested for centuries to fill pillows and quilts, with eiderdown remaining one of the most expensive insulating materials in the world.

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6. 02

   Female common eiders produce a distinctive guttural quacking call to communicate with their ducklings, while males remain largely silent throughout the year.

   Common EiderMay 14sharebehaviorvocalizationreproduction
7. 01

   Male common eiders can dive to depths exceeding 60 feet to forage for mussels and other mollusks on the seafloor.

   Common EiderMay 14sharebiologymeasurementbehavior