Photo: Dave Menke / USFWS · Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska · U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service · Public Domain
← Kodiak species
Waterfowl
Common Eider
Somateria mollissima
The largest duck in the Northern Hemisphere. Males have striking white-and-black plumage with a distinctive sloping bill profile. Breeds on Kodiak and winters along the coast.
Where to look
Rocky beaches and offshore islets around Kodiak Island, particularly along the Spiridon Bay shore and Afognak Island coast.
Habitat
Rocky coastal shorelines and offshore islands year-round.
Diet
Mussels, clams, sea urchins, starfish, and large crustaceans.
Natural history note
Eider down, the insulating feathers lining the nest, is the warmest natural insulating material known and has been harvested sustainably for centuries.