(DRAFT) - Taxonomy
Species eider, king
Species Id M040072
Date 26 AUG 96
TAXONOMY
NAME - eider, king
OTHER COMMON NAMES -
ELEMENT CODE - 04/12/84
AOU CODE - 06/04/85
CATEGORY - Birds
PHYLUM AND SUBPHYLUM - Chordata, Vertebrata
CLASS AND SUBCLASS - Aves,
ORDER AND SUBORDER - Anseriformes,
FAMILY AND SUBFAMILY - Anatidae, Anthyinae
GENUS AND SUBGENUS - Somateria,
SPECIES AND SSP - spectabilis,
SCIENTIFIC NAME - Somateria spectabilis
AUTHORITY - Linnaeus
TAXONOMY REFERENCES - 539
Taxonomy - 1 (DRAFT) - Status
Species eider, king
Species Id M040072
Date 26 AUG 96
STATUS
Coded Status
Federal Migratory
Game (Consumptive Recreational)
Accidental
REFERENCES FOR STATUS - 424 and 758
Status - 1 (DRAFT) - Distribution
Species eider, king
Species Id M040072
Date 26 AUG 96
DISTRIBUTION
References on County Occurrence - 001, 095, 115, 131, 199, 550, 650, 700, 800, 810 and 830
References on Seasonal Occurrence - Accidental south to Florida *609*; rare in Chesapeake Bay;
a few seen most winters in the lower Bay; viewed from Chesapeake Bay
Bridge-Tunnel from Norfolk to Cape Charles, Virginia; seen across mouth
of Bay *582*
OTHER DISTRIBUTION
REFERENCES FOR OTHER DISTRIBUTION - A
Comments on Distribution -
Accidental south to Florida *609*; rare in Chesapeake Bay;
a few seen most winters in the lower Bay; viewed from Chesapeake Bay
Bridge-Tunnel from Norfolk to Cape Charles, Virginia; seen across mouth
of BAy *582*
Distribution - 1 HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS
HABITAT - Aquatic
REFERENCES FOR HABITAT - 424
LAND USE -
Water
Streams and Canals
Lakes
Bays and Estuaries
Wetland
Nonforested Wetland
Barren Land
Sandy Areas other than Beaches
Bare Exposed Rock
Mixed Barren Land
REFERENCES FOR LAND USE - 539, 538, 2825 and 424
NATIONAL WETLAND INVENTORY CODES
NWI NWICLS NWIMOD NWISPEC
Marine
Riverine
Estuarine
Lacustrine
REFERENCES FOR NWI - 539, 538, 2825 and 424
ANIMAL/PLANT SPECIES ASSOCIATIONS -
Diseases and Parasites: Helminths: Nematodes *2051*
Protozoan: Blood parasites *1991*
REFERENCES FOR SPECIES ASSOCIATIONS - 1897, 1942, 2051 and 1991
COMMENTS ON SPECIES ASSOCIATIONS -
Diseases and Parasites: General reference
*538,2825*;
Habitat Associations - 1 (DRAFT) - Food Habits
Species eider, king
Species Id M040072
Date 26 AUG 96
FOOD HABITS
TROPHIC LEVEL -
OMNIVORE
REFERENCES FOR TROPHIC LEVEL - 424
LIFESTAGE FOOD FOOD PART
General Animals Larva stage
General Animals Adult stage
General Molluscs Adult stage
General Bivalve Molluscs Adult stage
General Plants Leaves/Needles
General Plants Fruit/Seeds
General Plants Bole/Stem
General Crustaceans Adult stage
General Malacostraca Adult stage
General Echinoderms Adult stage
General Sea/Heart Urchins Adult stage
General Trichoptera Larva stage
General Anthozoans Adult stage
General Monocotyledoneae Leaves/Needles
General Hydrocharitaceae Leaves/Needles
General Chlorophyta Leaves/Needles
General Coleoptera Larva stage
General Angiospermae Buds
General Angiospermae Leaves/Needles
General Angiospermae Fruit/Seeds
General Salicaceae Buds
General Salicaceae Leaves/Needles
General Ranunculaceae Leaves/Needles
General Bryophyta Bole/Stem
General Tracheophyta Bole/Stem
General Bryophyta Leaves/Needles
General Tracheophyta Leaves/Needles
General Insects Larva stage
General Diptera Larva stage
General Dicotyledoneae Buds
General Dicotyledoneae Leaves/Needles
General Dicotyledoneae Fruit/Seeds
General Salicaceae Fruit/Seeds
REFERENCES FOR GENERAL FOOD - 539, 538, 2825, 554 and 424
Food Habits - 1 (DRAFT) - Environment Associations
Species eider, king
Species Id M040072
Date 26 AUG 96
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS
G = General A = Adult
LIM = Limiting RA = Resting Adult
J = Juvenile FA = Feeding Adult
RJ = Resting Juvenile BA = Breeding Adult
FJ = Feeding Juvenile P = Pupae
L = Larvae E = Egg
RL = Resting Larvae
FL = Feeding Larvae
LIFESTAGE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS
G Water Level: Permanently flooded areas
G Water Level: Semi-permanently flooded areas
G Water Depth Preference: 1-5 ft.
G Water Depth Preference: 5-10 ft.
G Water Depth Preference: 10-25 ft.
G Water Depth Preference: 25-50 ft.
G Water Depth Preference: 50-100 ft.
G Water Depth Preference: 100-200 ft.
G Soil Needs: Rocky
G Soil Needs: Sand
G Soil Drainage: Well drained
G Soil Moisture: Dry
G Soil Compaction: Easily penetrated
G Terrestrial Features: Rock outcrops
G Terrestrial Features: Depressions
G Terrestrial Features: Bare ground
G Coastal Features: Reefs
G Coastal Features: Sand beaches
G Coastal Features: Rocky offshore islands
G Coastal Features: Sandy offshore islands
G Coastal Features: Rocky beaches
G Coastal Features: Vegetated offshore islands
G Aquatic Features: Pool areas
G Inland Wetlands: Inland shallow fresh marshes
G Inland Wetlands: Inland open fresh water
G Inland Wetlands: Inland saline marshes
G Coastal Wetlands: Coastal shallow fresh marsh
G Coastal Wetlands: Coastal deep fresh marshes
G Coastal Wetlands: Coastal open fresh water
G Coastal Wetlands: Sounds and bays
G Aquatic/Terrestrial Ecotones: Grassland/water
G Hardwood Forest: Willow
G Vegetations Successional Stage: Bare rock
G Vegetations Successional Stage: Climax grassland
G Human Association: Wildlife refuges/sanctuaries
REFERENCES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOC_ - 539, 538, 2825 and 424
Environment Associations - 1 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species eider, king
Species Id M040072
Date 26 AUG 96
LIFE HISTORY
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION:length: 530-600 mm *609*; weight
female=1530-2010 g (1830 g average), male=1500-1870 g *539*; adult male
(breeding): crown and back of head pale bluish gray forming a smooth
crest, separated from greenish cheeks by a whitish line; black spot
below the eye; black 'V' mark on the sides of the throat; black feathers
bordering the enlarged base of the bill; neck, throat, foreback white;
breast creamy white; rest of body and tail brownish black except for a
large white patch on each side of the rump; middle and lesser wing
coverts white; marginal coverts dusky; greater coverts and secondaries;
black; primaries and coverts brownish black; bill bright orange to red
with a whitish nail and seasonally enlarged orange to reddish forehead
knob; eye dark brown; legs and feet yellowish to dull orange with darker
webs *539*; adult female cinnamon buff head and neck finely streaked
with black; darker on crown and lighter on throat; rudimentary crest on
hind neck; neck brownish black; feathers edged with tawny and buff;
rump, tail coverts, breast, sides, flanks cinnamon buff with darker 'U'
shaped marks especially on the flanks; tail dark brown; primaries and
secondaries blackish brown; secondaries and coverts tipped white; eye
brown; bill gray; legs and feet greenish gray to dull yellow with darker
webs *539*; eclipse male dark brownish black; lacks crescent markings of
the female and retains upper wing coverts and some white feathers on
breast or foreback *539*; subadult male in second year resembles adults
but median wing coverts are margined or shaded with dusky coloration
*539*; juveniles both sexes quite brownish; during late winter male
gradually acquires darker back, scapulars, and flanks; develops varying
amount of white on breast and rump *539*; voice female=distinctive
hollow sounding notes; male=tremulous cooing *539*; REPRODUCTION:
courtship period from May to June; nesting begins last half of June and
continues 2-3 weeks after arrival on breeding grounds *539,424*;
incubation period 22-24 days *539*; clutch size 2-6 eggs (usually 5),
average 5.04 eggs *539,538,424*; no renesting due to short breeding
season *539*; sexual maturity in third year *538*; pair bond renewed
yearly during social courtship during winter and spring *538*; pair
bonds formed during second winter or spring of life; displays among
spring migrants *539*; male displays modifications of comfort movements;
head rolling, bathing, body shaking, wing flapping to expose black
abdomen and throat markings, upward stretch, cooing displays include
reaching and pushing; head turning conspicuous *539,538*; female
displays inciting; male responds by swimming rapidly ahead of her and
performing head-turning *539*; copulatory behavior extend selves prone
on water; male performs all the displays used during pair formation
(comfort movement displays); male treads; performs single display, swims
away rapidly while performing head-turning *539*; BEHAVIOR: not social
nesters; 6-10/square mile *538*; home range widely dispersed *424*;
active at all hours during the summer *538*; will fly over land; flocks
of 75-350; follow shoreline but usually keep at least one mile from
land; fly abreast in long line; fly 30-40 feet above water *554*;
corridors; Southhampton Island on the south, Boothia Peninsula in the
center, Ellsmore Island on the north to coastal west Canada, and
southwest Greenland; pass around the north and south ends of Baffin
Island or head overland over its middle; smallest flocks less than 10,
Life History - 1 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species eider, king
Species Id M040072
Date 26 AUG 96
largest 1100 *424*; first to arrive at coastlines to breed are males;
flocks of nearly equal sex ration arrive later; leave late April from
winter areas, arrive mid-June on breeding grounds *424*; immatures do
not go far north in summer and do not visit breeding grounds *554*;
spring migration during the day; midday pause; peaks during mid-morning
and mid-afternoon *538*; fall: males migrate early July daily through
August; females migrate mid-August to September; males congregate
temporarily at sea before leaving; most in east migrate east to
Greenland; yearlings summering near the molting grounds join molting
males *424*; immatures may remain on molting ground throughout the year;
fall migration more continuous from daybreak till sunset *538*; 100000
molt off coast of western Greenland *539*; males complete molt and then
continue migration in September and October *424*; unsuccessful females
and those that do not attend young form flock on breeding ground and
undergo molt migration after broods merge *539*; forage in open sea or
coastlines with sources of food at depths shallow enough to permit easy
diving; forage in deeper waters than the common eider *538*; dive to
150-180 feet; partially opens wings when diving; probably uses wings and
feet to swim *554*; food includes 95% animal matter and 5% plant matter;
molluscs make up 46%, 20% is blue mussels; crustaceans make up 19%, 50%
is king crab; echinoderms make up 17%, 8% is sand dollars and 6% is sea
urchin *2825,424*; 24% of total stomach volume is gravel *554*; also
eats caddisfly larvae, sea anemones, eelgrass, wigeon grass, algae,
larvae of aquatic insects and beetles, bivalves, crabs, brittle stars,
sea cucumbers, midges *539,538,554,538,424*; summer foods young and
females eat midge larvae and aquatics, twigs, buds, leaves, catkins of
willows, seeds of water buttercup, stems and leaves of moss, fly larvae,
grasses, sedges, broad-leaved herbs *539,424*; winter food molluscs, sea
urchins, sand dollars, crustaceans, algae, eelgrass (Zostera), wigeon
grass (Ruppia) *539*; high Arctic nesting grounds, females arrive
mid-June, spread out over tundra habitats, concentrate on river islands
as protection from arctic fox predation; nest well away from water; on
dry and rocky slopes up to 1/4 mile from nearest water; along fresh
water ponds, lakes, and streams on arctic tundra, usually near
coastlines with occassional nesting just above the high-tide line of
seacoasts *539*; penetrates inland along watercourses; breeds further
north than any other duck; likes areas that first become free of snow;
dry, well vegetated areas on ground with moss and lichen growth; bare
stretch of gravel or sand, amongst loose stones *2825*; off Canadian
coast, not as common off Alaska as the common eider; nest beside lakes,
on small islands in lakes, low marshy country, almost bare hillsides,
low mossy tundra, dry grassy tundra; usually well scattered nests but
when fox predation is high, concentrate nests on river islands; often on
dry rocky slopes; appear more frequently on interior lakes *538*;
closest nests 200 yards apart *538*; isolated or grouped nests; on
barrier islands *424*; incubation by female alone; as soon as clutch
completed males begin to migrate to molt (molt less than 1000 miles from
breeding areas) *539*; determinate nesters, little significant renesting
*424*; nest built entirely of down *607*; lays within one week of
arrival on territory *2825*; one egg laid per day; eggs bright olive; 64
X 43 mm ; 73 g *539*; male closely attends female only during egg
laying; follows her to nest site; female spends little time off nest
while incubating *538*; brood brought to ponds and eventually get to the
Life History - 2 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species eider, king
Species Id M040072
Date 26 AUG 96
coast sometimes via streams; very fast growth rate; fly in slightly over
1 month *424*; broods merge with over 100 ducklings and several females
*539*; attending females may remain in breeding area till September
*538*; non-breeding habitat found at sea; rest on drift ice; feed off
coastlines in deep waters; large flocks during non-breeding season;
15000 birds winter off St. Lawrence Island in February; pair formation
begins in these blocks *539*; winter on North Atlantic coast and
sometimes on Great lakes; frequently found south of natural habitat
*554*; found in ocean and along coasts *609*; winter as far north as
open water permits; 40-90 degrees north along Atlantic coast from Nova
Scotia to Virginia (Audubon Christmas counts); found singly or in duos
*424*; POPULATION PARAMETERS: North American population 1-1.5 million
*539*; Audubon Christmas counts (1954-1962) 16.5 at 53 stations *538*;
100000 in eastern Arctic and Greenland; sex ratio 1 male per 3.4 females
during migration in August; 60% males on breeding ground *424*;
mortality factors: starvation caused by late breakup of sea ice; 10%
hunting mortality in Greenland; foxes take large numbers of eggs after a
crash in the lemming population *424*; gulls take eggs also *538*;
AQUATIC/TERRESTRIAL ASSOCIATIONS: predators: arctic foxes, gulls
*2825,424*
REFERENCES FOR LIFE HISTORY- 539, 538, 2825, 582, 607, 554, 609 and 424
Life History - 3 (DRAFT) - Management Practices
Species eider, king
Species Id M040072
Date 26 AUG 96
MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
Management Practices - 1 (DRAFT) - References
Species eider, king
Species Id M040072
Date 26 AUG 96
References
424* Bellrose, R.C. 1978. Ducks, Geese and Swans of North
America. 2nd ed.. Stackpole Books Harrisburg, Penn:540.
538* Johnsgard, P.A. 1975. Waterfowl of North America. Indiana
Univ. Press Bloomington:575.
539* Johnsgard, P.A. 1978. Ducks, Geese, and Swans of the World.
Univ. Nebraska Press Lincoln:404.
554* Kortright, F.H. 1967. The Ducks, Geese, and Swans of North
America. Stackpole Books Harrisburg, Penn:476.
582* Meanley, B. 1982. Waterfowl of the Chesapeake Bay Country.
Tidewater Publ. Centreville, Md:210.
607* Pearson, G.T. (ed.)1936. Birds of America. Garden City
Publ. Co. Garden City, N.Y:260.
609* Peterson, R.T. 1980. Birds of eastern and central North
America. 4th Ed.. Houghton Mifflin Co. Boston, Mass:384.
758* (ed.)1982. Fish and wildlife. 50 CFR 10 (Code of Federal
Regulations). General Serv. Admin. Washington, D.C:7.
1897* Humphreys, P. 1978. Ducks, geese, swans (Anseriformes).
Zoo and Wild Animal Medicine Fowler, M.E. W.B. Saunders Co.
Philidelphia:183-209.
1942* Wobeser, G.A. 1981. DISEASES OF WILD WATERFOWL.:300.
1991* Bennett, G.F., Inger, J.G. 1972. Blood parasites of
gamebirds from insular Newfoundland. Can. J. Zool. 50:705-706.
2051* Wehr, E.E. 1971. Nematodes. Infectious and Parasitic
Diseases of Wild Birds Davis, J.W., Anderson, R.C., Karstad, L.,
Trainer, D.O. The Iowa State University Ames, Iowa:185-233.
2825* Soothill, E., Whitehead, P. 1978. WILDLIFE OF THE WORLD.
Blandford Press:297.
References - 1