The Spectacled Eider (Somateria fischeri) is a large sea duck, which breeds on the coasts of Alaska and northeastern Siberia.
The lined nest is built on tundra close to the sea, and 5-9 eggs are laid. This species dives for crustaceans and molluscs. It winters in often enormous flocks at sea in the Arctic along the edge of the pack ice.
The Spectacled Eider is slightly smaller than the Common Eider at 52-57cm. The male is unmistakable with its black body, white back, and yellow-green head with the large circular white eye patches which give the species its name. The drake's call is a weak crooning, and the female's a harsh croak.
The female is a rich brown bird, but can still be readily distinguished from all ducks except other eider species on size and structure. The paler googles are visible with a reasonable view, and clinch identification. Immature birds and eclipse adult drakes are similar to the female.
The common eider (male) is the only eider with a fl cap extending to the forehead and around the eye and divided on the crown by a white streak originating from the hind neck.
Common eiders nest near driftwood or clumps of grass on barrier islands, sandy beaches, and on islands in tundra ponds, often in association with gull colonies.
The male spectacledeider's distinguishing marks are a fl chest, unlike other eiders, and a large pale green head with fl outlined white spectacle-like patches around the eyes.
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