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Common Eider


Common Eider
Photo Information
Copyright: Peter van Zoest (PeterZ) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2405 W: 94 N: 5564] (17694)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2009-05-21
Categories: Birds
Camera: Nikon D300, AF Nikkor 70-300mm f4-5.6 G, Digital RAW
Exposure: f/9.0, 1/320 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2009-06-16 8:27
Viewed: 536
Points: 62
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
The Common Eider, Somateria mollissima, is a large (50-71 cm body length) sea-duck, which is distributed over the northern coasts of Europe, North America and eastern Siberia. It breeds in Arctic and some northern temperate regions, but winters somewhat farther south in temperate zones, when it can form large flocks on coastal waters.

The eider's nest is built close to the sea and is lined with the celebrated eiderdown, plucked from the female's breast. This soft and warm lining has long been harvested for filling pillows and quilts, but in more recent years has been largely replaced by down from domestic farm-geese and synthetic alternatives. Although true Eiderdown pillows or quilts are now a rarity, eiderdown harvesting continues and is sustainable, as it can be done after the ducklings leave the nest with no harm to the birds.

The Common Eider is characterized by its bulky shape and large wedge-shaped bill. The male is unmistakable with its black and white plumage and green nape. The female is a brown bird, but can still be readily distinguished from all ducks, except other eider-species, on the basis of size and head shape. This duck's call is a pleasant "ah-ooo." The species is often readily approachable.

Drakes of the European, eastern North American and Asia/western North American races can be distinguished by minor differences in plumage and bill color. Some authorities place the subspecies v-nigra as a separate species.

This species dives for crustaceans and molluscs, with mussels being a favored food. The Eider will eat mussels by swallowing them whole, the shells are then crushed in their stomachs and excreted. When eating a crab the Eider will remove all of its claws and legs and then eat the body in a similar fashion.

It is abundant, with populations of about 1.5-2 million birds in both North America and Europe, and also large but unknown numbers in eastern Siberia.

A particularly famous colony of eiders lives on the Farne Islands in Northumberland, England. These birds were the subject of one of the first ever bird protection laws, established by Saint Cuthbert in the year 676. About 1,000 pairs still nest there every year.

The Common Eider is one of the species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) applies.

Social behaviour
Eiders are colonial breeders. They nest on coastal islands in colonies ranging in size of less than 100 to upwards of 10,000-15,000 individuals. Female eiders frequently exhibit a high degree of natal philopatry, where they return to breed on the same island where they were hatched. This can lead to a high degree of relatedness between individuals nesting on the same island, as well as the development of kin-based female social structures. This relatedness has likely played a role in the evolution of co-operative breeding behaviours amongst eiders. Examples of these behaviours include: laying eggs in the nests of related individuals and crèching, where female eiders team up and share the work of rearing ducklings.

Source: Wikipedia
Alex99, Argus, maurydv, Juyona, siggi, briGG, boreocypriensis, Gert-Paassen, nglen, goldyrs, LordPotty, NinaM, xTauruSx, bahadir, Noisette, anel, uleko, CeltickRanger has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3591 W: 143 N: 5691] (18607)
  • [2009-06-16 8:32]

Hi Peter.
What an attractive species. I have never seen it before. Superb exposure and reproduction of the bird features especially the white colour tones. Clarity and sharpness as well as transparency of he image are stunning. My kind regards and compliments.
Alexei.

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3825 W: 190 N: 11396] (35111)
  • [2009-06-16 8:36]

Hello Peter,
A fine close capture of a male Common Eider, a species that is becomming rarer in the Baltic now and no-one knows why. I see that it is moulting from the eclipse plumage. I ahve never been able to get as close as this to our Eiders and I hope to do so one day.
Thanks and best wishes,
Ivan

Hello Peter,
a fantastic portrait of the Common Eider, superb sharpness and marvellous natural colours, excellent POV and composition.
TFS
Best regards
Maurizio

  • Great 
  • Juyona Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2267 W: 10 N: 2646] (15625)
  • [2009-06-16 9:22]

Que buena captura Peter,
original specimen,
excelente pov y buen foco...
saludos amigo,

  • Great 
  • siggi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1382 W: 56 N: 4768] (16394)
  • [2009-06-16 9:36]

Hello Peter,
Beautiful capture of this Eider. Fine POV/pose, sharp details, nice warm light, and well composed. Pleasing water patterns also. Well done, Best regards Siggi

  • Great 
  • zetu Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 655 W: 15 N: 1629] (6333)
  • [2009-06-16 11:30]

Hello Peter
Wonderful capture. well done.
Regards
Razvan

  • Great 
  • briGG Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 171 W: 2 N: 272] (1383)
  • [2009-06-16 11:50]

Hello Peter,

Beautiful capture of this common eider.
This specimen is very interesting!
Excellent sharpness!
TFS

brigitte

  • Great 
  • joska Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 414 W: 0 N: 1030] (5550)
  • [2009-06-16 11:52]

Hello, this is a very nice pictures with great detailles! Congratulations!

Hi Peter, a splendid capture of cute duck whic it is a novelty for me with excellent details, wonderful POV and fine composition.
TFS and cheers,
Bayram

Ciao Peter. Altra macro di eccellente qualità tecnica e compisitiva. Grande nitidezza.

Roberto

Hallo Peter,

zo deze eend hebben we niet in Drenthe en Overijssel.
Hij staat er goed op met veel detailering.
Zijn toch mooie eenden van zo dicht bij.

Gert

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2921 W: 34 N: 8658] (32266)
  • [2009-06-16 12:26]

Hi Peter. This is a unusual looking Duck which you have taken with fine detail and colours in the featehrs. A goos side POV so we can see all of the body andhead. It has must unusual markings around the eye. Well done TFS . Good notes too.
Nick..

  • Great 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1978 W: 6 N: 5527] (19673)
  • [2009-06-16 14:36]

Hi Peter,as your last this is another wonderful shot,especially for the specie that i never seen before.Top quality of sharpness and colors and beautiful reflections too.Thanks for share,have a nice day,LUCIANO

A real beauty of a shot, Peter!I never knew there were sea-ducks!
Superb note , too, mate!
goldy

Hi Peter,
I believe we have met this duck before(and not just in our old duvet,or eiderdown as we used to call it in England).
It is indeed a beautiful species,very nicely captured.
TFS
Steve

Hi Peter

Great shot of the Eider. Good sharpness and plumage detail.

Chris

  • Great 
  • NinaM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 801 W: 3 N: 2100] (6596)
  • [2009-06-17 6:08]

Thanks for the notes, Peter, and the superb picture of this beautiful bird. I love all the details in this sharp picture, the feathers contrast is managed very well. Thank you,

Francine

Hello Peter,
Wonderful shot of this beautiful and pretty Common Eider.
TFS and regards,
Deniz

Hi Peter,
A nice capture of this beautiful eider duck. Superb sharp details and a lovely composition. Thanks a lot for sharing.

Hello Peter, another lovely and great shot of a cute duck with nice composition and details.
TFS and regards,
Bahadır

Hello Peter
Superb capture of this Common Eider, i like the colors and the details on his plumage, each feather is very sharp
great POV and composition
Have a good night
Jacqueline

  • Great 
  • foozi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1339 W: 0 N: 2585] (9117)
  • [2009-06-18 7:33]

Hi Peter,
your collection of duck is amazing. it enhances my knowledge on all types of duck i have seen.
Very sharp and well rendered colour. Very special duck to me cos i have never seen one like this.
what a serie of ducks you got.

regards,
Foozi

Hi Peter,
First, reflections ... very nice.
This composition is very lovely with little duck.
A fine detail and colour tones.And in the eyes of the duck very nice.
Best wishes,
Seyfi

Ciao Peter, great capture of elegant bird, splendid reflections, fine details, beautiful colors and wonderful sharpness, very well done, ciao Silvio

Hi
I like your shot and the POV of this composition. You show excellent head details and wonderful contrasts in the plumage. The colours are great and the exposure in general was very well controlled. The only nit I might have is the darkish eye.
TFS
Marx

hello peter,
beautiful capture of the Common Eider, you have managed with the exposure quite well, liked the composition and the pov, the reflections on water makes the shot even better,
tfs & regards
pankaj

  • Great 
  • anel Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1730 W: 0 N: 3938] (15810)
  • [2009-06-20 4:42]

Hello Peter,
Amazed to see how many different ducks are living on our planet, some of them having a quite strange aspect, like this Common Eider. It has such a curious color-patches desing, somehow very artistic. And the colors of the feathers are most beautiful. Interesting posting for which I thank you very much.
Kind regards
Anne

  • Great 
  • manyee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3067 W: 231 N: 6167] (21074)
  • [2009-06-24 10:41]

Hi Peter,
I really like your series on these unusual ducks.
This eider is very odd looking. : )
Focus and exposure in this shot are excellent.
TFS. : )

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3001 W: 162 N: 989] (2897)
  • [2009-06-25 3:35]

Hello Peter,
Very ncie close capture of the Common Eider showing great sharpness and natural colours.
In cold winters we see them in the small harbours along the coast but they're shy and it's hard to get close enough to get a clear capture.
TFS and regards, Ulla

hello Peter

excellent photo of the Common Eider with fine POV showing
his beautiful plumage, excellent sharpness and details, TFS

Asbed

Hi Peter,
the common eider featured by you in elegant drab-coloured black and white composition with graphically well placed reflections on the water. Thank you!
With best regards,
Peter

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