King EiderSomateria spectabilisWhere and when to see them

The king eider is a northern sea duck whose breeding male combines a pale blue crown, greenish cheeks and a striking orange bill shield. Females are mottled brown and much less conspicuous. It breeds across Arctic tundra and spends much of the remaining year at sea. Coastal flocks can be watched from land in suitable northern regions, but its distribution is strongly seasonal and many important areas are remote.

Size

50-70 cm long

Weight

1.2-2.1 kg

Lifespan

Not reliably established

Status

Least Concern

Outside the breeding period, king eiders often gather in flocks, sometimes alongside common eiders. They obtain food beneath the sea surface and rest or preen in groups between feeding bouts. During breeding, pairs move onto tundra wetlands, where females incubate ground nests lined with down. Males leave nesting areas earlier than females. Seasonal movements connect inland breeding habitats with coastal moulting and wintering grounds, sometimes over substantial distances. Males undertake a post-breeding moult migration to specific coastal areas, often well before females and juveniles. Their remarkable diving capabilities allow them to exploit benthic food sources at depths often exceeding 20 meters.

• The adult male's orange frontal shield enlarges its distinctive head profile.
• Females line their nests with down plucked from their own bodies.
• Breeding grounds may lie well inland despite its sea-duck identity.
• Males usually depart breeding areas before females finish raising young.

In northern Norway, late winter and early spring can offer useful coastal observation opportunities before birds disperse toward breeding areas. Across the wider Arctic, June to August is a practical access window. These regional periods differ, and many breeding birds are away from coastal viewpoints. In the Barents Sea region, large wintering flocks can be observed from coastal viewpoints during colder months, prior to their spring migration. Arctic expedition cruises during the summer often provide opportunities to see scattered individuals or pairs on tundra wetlands.

Breeding habitat consists of Arctic tundra with freshwater ponds, lakes and marshy ground. Outside breeding, birds favor marine coastal waters, banks and ice-edge environments where food is accessible. Sheltered bays and harbours can provide shore viewpoints, although substantial numbers also remain far offshore. They are highly dependent on sea ice for foraging and resting outside the breeding season. During winter, they can be found in shallow coastal waters near pack ice or in polynyas.

At sea, king eiders eat bottom-dwelling invertebrates such as molluscs, crustaceans, echinoderms and marine worms. During the breeding season, their diet can include freshwater invertebrates and some plant material. Food availability and water depth influence where coastal feeding flocks gather. Winter diet predominantly consists of bivalves, especially mussels and clams, which they retrieve by diving to considerable depths. Juveniles may consume a higher proportion of crustaceans than adults.

Common name

King Eider

Scientific name

Somateria spectabilis

Animal group

Birds

Size

50-70 cm long

Weight

1.2-2.1 kg

Lifespan

Not reliably established

Status

Least Concern

Identification

The male king eider has an orange frontal shield and blue-grey crown unlike a male common eider, while females have a shorter, rounder head profile and upturned-looking bill gape. Both sexes possess a distinct wedge-shaped bill profile, which is a key identification feature. The male's vibrant head pattern and orange bill shield make it unmistakable, even from a distance.