Posted by Luke Ormand on January 12, 2014 at 7:59 PM
Can someone please help me with this seaduck? It was in a raft of scoters and eiders. I know there are some female and immature male king eiders in this raft but looking at my ID book got me no where. Thank you
- Luke
Posted by Richard Hahn on January 12, 2014 at 8:57 PM
Luke, Great picture and we saw similar ducks out at the Shinnecock Inlet today. Unfortunately no clue what it is.
Posted by Luke Ormand on January 12, 2014 at 9:13 PM
Thanks Rich - there were a lot of black and surf scoters, plus Common Eiders but this one is different then the rest.
Posted by Luke Ormand on January 12, 2014 at 9:15 PM
After looking at some images online I am leaning toward immature Male King Eider which would be a new species for me
Posted by Brian Gatlin on January 12, 2014 at 10:04 PM
looking at the books, I think you're right, Luke, but it's a species I have zero experience with.
Juvenile/1stwinter Kink Eider - Stokes Birds of NA
Posted by Richard Ditch on January 13, 2014 at 12:00 PM
King Eider.
Posted by Jim DeWitt on January 13, 2014 at 3:41 PM
I'm not quite as confident, based on seeing several thousand sub-adult Eiders over the years. But it's most likely a subadult King Eider; there's a much lower chance it's a subadult Common Eider. A first winter male King should have a much whiter chest... A first winter female should have an all-black bill...
Posted by Luke Ormand on January 13, 2014 at 8:48 PM
Jim - I appreciate your comment due to your expertise obviously. I'll try and post a different photo later showing the size difference between this bird and the Common Eider
Posted by Rick Cloran on February 17, 2014 at 7:40 PM
Juvenile male King Eider, likely 1st winter. I believe this is what is called eclipse plumage.
Discussion
9 replies- Luke