King Eider
(Somateria spectabilis)

Summary

Picture of bird
© Ryan Clancy
For additional photos and vocalizations, visit Dendroica. (Link opens in a new window.)

The King Eider has a circumpolar distribution. Among the sea ducks, this species is one of the most northerly nesting. There are two King Eider populations in North America: the Western Arctic and the Eastern Arctic Populations. Since 1970, both populations appear to have shown a small to moderate decline, though in some areas the local population has remained relatively stable. However, the information available to estimate the population trends and harvest of this species is limited and the reliability of this assessment is low. This species has been identified as a priority for conservation and/or stewardship in one or more Bird Conservation Region Strategies in Canada.

Designations

Listing of the main designations for the species
DesignationStatusDateSubspecies, population
IUCN (Global)Least Concern2012 
Wild Species (Canada)Sensitive2010 
North American Waterfowl Management PlanNo Designation2012 
Bird Conservation Region StrategyPriority Species2013 

Population status

Geographic areaStatusReliability
CanadaModerate DecreaseLow
 

Population estimate

Canada500,000 - 1,000,000 birds
 

Distribution maps

 

Migration strategy, occurrence

Short-distance migrant

Responsibility for conservation of world population

CanadaHigh

Conservation and management

Subsistence harvesting and losses associated with starvation are the two major sources of mortality for King Eiders (Cotter and Lepage 2013). Mass starvation of adults during spring migration occurs occasionally due to lack of open water or because adverse weather conditions limit their access to food sources. The breeding success of the King Eider varies greatly. A delay in the spring ice melt, as well as bad weather conditions during migration or during the breeding season, can greatly impact this species’ productivity (Powell and Suydam 2012). The likely increase of industrial activity and marine shipping in Canada’s north could negatively affect eiders through disturbance and pollution from accidental spills or chronic discharges. King Eider is an important species in the subsistence harvest by Aboriginal people in Canada, Alaska and Russia. In Canada, sport harvesting of King Eiders has always been very low.

 

Bird conservation region strategies

Environment and Climate Change Canada and partners have developed Bird Conservation Region Strategies in each of Canada’s Bird Conservation Regions (BCRs). In these strategies, selected species are identified as priorities for one or more of the following reasons:

  • conservation concerns (i.e., species vulnerable due to population size, distribution, population trend, abundance, or threats)
  • stewardship responsibilities (i.e., species that typify the regional avifauna or have a large proportion of their range or population in the sub-region)
  • management concerns (i.e., species that require ongoing management because of their socio-economic importance as game species, or because of their impacts on other species or habitats)
  • other concerns (i.e., species deemed a priority by regional experts for other reasons than those listed above or because they are listed as species at risk or concern at the provincial level)

Select any of the sub-regions below to view the BCR strategy for additional details.

BCRs, marine biogeographic units, and sub-regions in which the species is listed as a priority
RegionSub-region and priority type
Arctic Plains and MountainsArctic Plains and Mountains, sub-region and priority type: Prairie and Northern Region
Newfoundland and Labrador Shelves Newfoundland and Labrador Shelves , sub-region and priority type: Atlantic Region - Newfoundland and Labrador
 

References