The King Eider Ducks are a large sea bird and are a dimorphic species that is just slightly smaller than the Common Eider. The King Eider Duck or Kingalik in Inuktitut are an extremely widespread water fowl. Their territory is spread all throughout the High and Low Arctic, with the ducks wintering near Alaska and Russia or Greenland and Newfoundland and Labrador depending on their arctic locale. King Eiders prefer to nest in low marshy, vegetated habitats that are next to freshwater lakes and ponds. During the breeding season King Eiders feed on aquatic plants and insect larvae, but once back in the ocean, the impressive diving capabilities of the Eider species comes into play. King Eiders will dive deeper than their Common counterparts (up to 20 meters) to hunt for their preferred prey, mollusks and sea urchins.
King, Indeed!
The waterfowl of the Arctic generally aren't known to be ornately adorned. And none is more so than the male King Eider, its black-and-white plumage accented by a bulbous red-and-orange bill, with a pearl-blue crown, and beautiful sea foam green cheeks make the King Eider stand out as one of the most gorgeous birds above the Arctic Circle. Their return to breeding areas during springtime can be spectacular to view: vast flocks numbering in the thousands pass by northern Alaska, it is a jaw-dropping phenomenon if you can get to the remote locations needed to see these wonderful birds.
My Experience "Hunting" the Bird
When I came across the King Eider Duck it was during a dog walking session while out at the cabins dotting the southern shore of the island. We headed north, up off the jagged limestone raised beaches of old and headed to the marshy plateau that adorns this part of the island. The ground is softer up here for my dog's paws. It comes at the price of a wet dog since she cannot resist running into the ponds, but it prevents her from tearing a pad and limping so it's worth it. Anyhow, we head up to the first pond and I can see a duck of some type out there. Always the avid photographer, I have my Nikon p900 in my backpack and swing it out to see what type of bird it is. The best set of binoculars I've ever owned is my p900. It has 83x zoom, allowing you to get close to the animals without spooking them. And in my case, far enough away that my dog doesn't chase them off!
When I first saw the King Eider through my viewfinder, I must confess, I found the unusual beak bulge to be quite off-putting and thought the animal ugly. Upon review, though I now think of the male King Eider to be quite the beautiful creature. The many colors on its face are simultaneously vibrant and dull which contrast nicely next to eachother. And while the female King Eider isn't as show-ey as her male counterparts, her reddy-brown coloring is uniquely beautiful as well. It reminds me of what a Sandpiper would look like if it had a 1 meter wingspan. Overall, this unique waterfowl was a wonderful treat to photograph on the tundra ponds of Igloolik Island, far north in Nunavut, Canada. I will be keeping my eyes peeled next year to get even more photos of this magestic bird.
The King Eider Duck is hunted by the Inuit for its wonderful down feathers. I haven't heard about it being eaten, but I assume just like any other water fowl they would consume the entire animal. The eggs of the King Eider are also a choice delicacy and are collected over the "Arctic Spring" of June and July.
I am not a hunter and do not enjoy the flavour of game meat, but I do endorse people eating and utilizing animals in a traditional manner.
I have only been in Nunavut for a few years, but I think that the King Eider is my new favorite bird, ousting the chubby floof known as the Snow Bunting as my top bird.
What birds in your local area do you like to spot? Which bird leaves you feeling happy when you witness one of them in the wild?
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