The King Eider has a circumpolar distribution. Among the sea ducks, this species is one of the most northerly nesting. There are two populations of King Eider (identified based on the species' wintering areas): the Western Arctic and the Eastern Arctic populations. Based on limited data, both populations appear to have declined since the 1970s. Subsistence Aboriginal harvest in Canada, Greenland, Alaska, and Russia represents the majority of the take for this species. Information on population trends and harvest is limited. This species has been identified as a priority for conservation and/or stewardship in one or more Bird Conservation Region Strategies in Canada.
Subsistence harvesting and losses associated with starvation are two major sources of mortality for King Eiders (Cotter and Lepage 2013). Mass starvation of adults during spring migration can occur 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 Arctic region 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 Indigenous peoples in Canada, Alaska and Russia. In Canada, regulated harvest of King Eiders has always been very low. The remoteness of most of the species’ breeding and wintering areas, the existence of several distinct populations, and the fact that eiders do not use recognized North American flyways are all factors explaining the lack of consistent management and monitoring programs in Canada. Canada has a core responsibility for managing eiders, but better collaboration is needed between Canadian northern wildlife management boards, Russia, Greenland, France (Saint-Pierre and Miquelon) and the United Stated if the species’ population is to be managed sustainably.
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:
Select any of the sub-regions below to view the BCR strategy for additional details.