Connecticut Audubon Bird Finder for March 14: King Eider

King Eider
Somateria spectabilis

Written by Milan Bull, Senior Director of Science and Conservation

Where to find it:  For the past two weeks there have been three King Eiders at Sunken Island in Fairfield, two females and one first-winter male. To look for these rare eiders, follow Beach Road in Fairfield west to its end at the mouth of Pine Creek. Sunken Island is about one quarter of a mile offshore and is covered at high tide, but the terminus is marked by a large red bell buoy. Small groups of ducks, including the eiders, are often seen feeding in the shallow water off the island. A spotting scope is necessary to view these birds, as they are usually 200 yards offshore.

How to find it: From the parking area at the end of Beach Road, scan the water between the beach and the red bell buoy, looking for small groups of ducks. The eiders will appear larger than most of the other waterfowl you might see there.

What they look like: This large, stocky duck of arctic coastal waters is a rare but regular visitor to Long Island Sound. The females will appear greyish or buffy brown with a thick neck and a dark bill, slightly smaller than Common Eiders, which are considerably darker. A scaly pattern on the body helps distinguish them from female Common Eiders, which are more barred on the breast and sides. The first-winter male has a very dark body with a whitish chest, an orange bill and a brownish head, unfortunately not the spectacular plumage and bill shield of the adult, but a great bird nonetheless!

What if the birds are not there: Don’t give up! It may be they moved with the tide (given today’s date, beware the tides of March). Drive back along Beach Road and park at the restaurant/motel on the left, and walk to the beach along the public access trail directly out to Penfield Reef, a long sand bar extending about a mile into Long Island Sound with a lighthouse at the end. This is a great place to observe gulls, ducks (Barrow’s Goldeneye) and winter shorebirds such as Sanderlings and Dunlin (occasional Purple Sandpiper). After birding the reef, go back and check Sunken Island again, you just might be rewarded with the eiders or a Lesser Black-backed Gull, which has been seen in the area as well.

Conservation Status: The IUCN lists this bird as Least Concern.

Connecticut Audubon Bird Finder is edited by Tom Andersen.
Photos courtesy of Wikipedia Commons (top) and Toronto Wildlife.

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