King Eider in St. Louis County
2013-12-12

'Casual' in Minnesota - Five or fewer records in St. Louis County for the Winter season

Only because no one else has posted a photo, I'm providing this marginal image of the female King Eider (Somateria spectabilis) found by Greg Garmer in Duluth on the afternoon of 12 December. The location was initially on Lake Superior out from the Beacon Pointe building along Water St, but the eider soon moved a couple of blocks to the east where it was visible from the end of 23rd Ave East. It remained in this area through at least midday on 13 December, where it was accompanied by a female Barrow's Goldeneye, two White-winged Scoters, and several Common Goldeneyes. Several other observers were able to see Greg's bird, but photography was difficult due to the distance and unfavorable light conditions. Note the lack of a "Canvasback-like" head-bill profile and the absence of dark vertical markings on the sides, both features of female Common Eider (Somateria mollissima). Not really shown in the photo, but visible through spotting scopes, is that the facial feathering extended forward on the bill but stopped short of the nostril; this feathering on Common Eider extends to the nostril and slightly beyond. Of final note on the image is the apparently pale eye color, which is inconsistent with any species of eider; however, I assume this is not the iris but the pale nictating membrane over the eye.

Kim R. Eckert ("digiscoped" image through 25-50x Leica spotting scope)