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Ian Fulton | profile | all galleries >> Scottish Birds >> Common Eider tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Common Eider

The Common Eider is a stocky robust sea duck which is found in large flocks at favoured locations around the Scottish coast. It is a diving duck feeding on mussels and other molluscs. The male in breeding plumage is a remarkably handsome bird but becomes a smudgy mess in eclipse. Female birds with young chicks often form large creches. A flock of birds makes a delightful cooing sound.
Common Eider, Kingsbarns, Fife
Common Eider, Kingsbarns, Fife		 Common Eider, Kingsbarns, Fife
Common Eider, Kingsbarns, Fife		 Common Eider, Fife Ness, Fife
Common Eider, Fife Ness, Fife		 Common Eider, Fife Ness, Fife
Common Eider, Fife Ness, Fife		 Common Eider, Fife Ness, Fife
Common Eider, Fife Ness, Fife
Eider, Troon Harbour, Ayrshire
Eider, Troon Harbour, Ayrshire		 Eider, Troon Harbour, Ayrshire
Eider, Troon Harbour, Ayrshire		 Common Eider, Kilminning SWT, Fife
Common Eider, Kilminning SWT, Fife		 Common Eider, Kilminning SWT, Fife
Common Eider, Kilminning SWT, Fife		 Eider
Eider
Eider
Eider		 Common Eider, Turnberry Point, Ayrshire
Common Eider, Turnberry Point, Ayrshire		 Eider, Balcomie, Fife
Eider, Balcomie, Fife		 Eider, Balcomie, Fife
Eider, Balcomie, Fife		 Eider, Balcomie, Fife
Eider, Balcomie, Fife
Eider, Balcomie, Fife
Eider, Balcomie, Fife		 Eider (drake), Fife Ness
Eider (drake), Fife Ness		 Eider (drake), Fife Ness
Eider (drake), Fife Ness		 Eider, Fife Ness
Eider, Fife Ness		 Eider, Fife Ness
Eider, Fife Ness
Eider (drake), Fife Ness
Eider (drake), Fife Ness		 Eider (duck), Fife Ness
Eider (duck), Fife Ness		 Eider (drake), Fife Ness
Eider (drake), Fife Ness		 Eider (drake), Fife Ness
Eider (drake), Fife Ness		 Eider (drake), Fife Ness
Eider (drake), Fife Ness
Eider (drake), Fife Ness
Eider (drake), Fife Ness		 Eider Duck, Largo Bay, Fife
Eider Duck, Largo Bay, Fife		 Eider Duck, Largo Bay, Fife
Eider Duck, Largo Bay, Fife		 Common Eider, Handa Island, Sutherland
Common Eider, Handa Island, Sutherland		 Common Eider, Handa Island, Sutherland
Common Eider, Handa Island, Sutherland
Common Eider, Handa Island, Sutherland
Common Eider, Handa Island, Sutherland		 Common Eider, Handa Island, Sutherland
Common Eider, Handa Island, Sutherland		 Common Eider, Balcomie, Fife
Common Eider, Balcomie, Fife		 Common Eider, Balcomie, Fife
Common Eider, Balcomie, Fife		 Common Eider, Irvine harbour, Ayrshire
Common Eider, Irvine harbour, Ayrshire
Common Eider, Irvine harbour, Ayrshire
Common Eider, Irvine harbour, Ayrshire		 Common Eider, Troon harbour, Ayrshire
Common Eider, Troon harbour, Ayrshire		 Common Eider, Troon harbour, Ayrshire
Common Eider, Troon harbour, Ayrshire		 Common Eider, Troon harbour, Ayrshire
Common Eider, Troon harbour, Ayrshire		 Common Eider, Isle of May, Fife
Common Eider, Isle of May, Fife
Common Eider, Isle of May, Fife
Common Eider, Isle of May, Fife		 Common Eider, Isle of May, Fife
Common Eider, Isle of May, Fife		 Common Eider, Isle of May, Fife
Common Eider, Isle of May, Fife		 Common Eider, Isle of May, Fife
Common Eider, Isle of May, Fife		 Common Eider, Pittenweem, Fife
Common Eider, Pittenweem, Fife
Common Eider, Balcomie, Fife
Common Eider, Balcomie, Fife		 Common Eider, Balcomie, Fife
Common Eider, Balcomie, Fife		 Common Eider, Balcomie, Fife
Common Eider, Balcomie, Fife		 Common Eider, Fife Ness
Common Eider, Fife Ness		 Eider, Lerwick harbour, Mainland, Shetland
Eider, Lerwick harbour, Mainland, Shetland
Eider, Lerwick harbour, Mainland, Shetland
Eider, Lerwick harbour, Mainland, Shetland		 Common Eider, Balcomie Beach, Fife
Common Eider, Balcomie Beach, Fife		 Common Eider, Balcomie Beach, Fife
Common Eider, Balcomie Beach, Fife		 Common Eider, Cardwell Bay-Gourock, Clyde
Common Eider, Cardwell Bay-Gourock, Clyde		 Eider duck and chicks, Balcomie Beach, Fife
Eider duck and chicks, Balcomie Beach, Fife
Eider duck and chicks, Balcomie Beach, Fife
Eider duck and chicks, Balcomie Beach, Fife		 Eider duck and chicks, Balcomie Beach, Fife
Eider duck and chicks, Balcomie Beach, Fife		 Eider duck and chicks, Balcomie Beach, Fife
Eider duck and chicks, Balcomie Beach, Fife		 Eider ducks and chicks, Balcomie Beach, Fife
Eider ducks and chicks, Balcomie Beach, Fife		 Eider duck and chick, Balcomie Beach, Fife
Eider duck and chick, Balcomie Beach, Fife
Eider duck and chicks, Balcomie Beach, Fife
Eider duck and chicks, Balcomie Beach, Fife		 Eider Duck, Fife Ness, Fife
Eider Duck, Fife Ness, Fife		 Eider Duck, Fife Ness, Fife
Eider Duck, Fife Ness, Fife

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Irene McWatt 03-Jul-2009 10:11
I tried to find some information re. Eider ducks, via Google and Ask.com. The Wikipeda states that the nests are feathered by the female only. I grew up in Northern Norway and have seen on many occasions the male making himself available for the female to also pluck his chest! (Male compatriots have been known to say 'ouch!' when observing this habit, or antic). I don't know if this is a peculiarity known only among these ducks, but would be happy to know if this has been observed elsewhere.
Also, i have a question; when, and how many times do Eider ducks breed in Scotland?
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