Steller's Eider
A species of Steller'S Eiders, Also known as Western Duck Scientific name : Polysticta stelleri Genus : Steller'S Eiders
Steller's Eider, A species of Steller'S Eiders
Also known as:
Western Duck
Botanical name: Polysticta stelleri
Genus: Steller'S Eiders
Content
Description General Info
Description
This species is the smallest eider at 45 cm (18 in) long. The male is unmistakable with his white head marked by a thick black eye ring and greenish-black tufts of feathers on the forehead and the back of the head. Chin, throat and neck are also black, as are the back, tail, and rump. Wings are dark bluish-purple with white edging. When folded, they give a striped appearance across the back. The speculum is metallic blue bordered with white. The breast and flanks are cinnamon-buff marked with a black spot on each side just above the waterline. Legs, feet and bill are dark bluish-grey. The female is a dark brown bird, smaller with a more typically duck-shaped head and body than other eider species. The drake's call is a deep crooning, although it is relatively quiet compared to the Somateria eiders. The hen also has a repertoire of grunts and whistles. 
Size
41 - 81 cm
Life Expectancy
12-23 years
Nest Placement
Ground
Feeding Habits
Steller's Eider predominantly consume insects and seeds in breeding areas, dabbling and tipping up in shallow waters to feed on midge larvae and crustaceans among others. They switch to marine prey such as mollusks and small crustaceans in non-breeding seasons, foraging in algae beds by dabbling, tipping up, and diving.
Habitat
Steller's Eider are avian inhabitants predominantly of the Arctic tundra, preferring marshy regions with a rich tapestry of water sedge and pendant grass. They select drier zones within these wetlands, such as raised hummocks, to nest. The proximity to coastal lagoons, abundant in eelgrass and providing food-rich tidal flats, is crucial, particularly when moulting and flightless. In winter, steller's Eider relocate to sheltered bays and lagoons along low-lying rocky coasts, typically where waters are shallow, such as Alaska's Aleutian Islands, extending from Kodiak to Unalaska Island.
Nest Behavior
Steller's Eider exhibits a distinct nesting pattern where the female constructs the nest and begins lining it with down feathers upon laying the third egg. Egg-laying is undertaken by the female, who also takes responsibility for the incubation and rearing of the young, with specific care patterns evolving after hatching.
Nest Characteristics
Steller's Eider typically selects elevated marshy tundra locations for nest sites, often utilizing a hummock or ridge with surrounding vegetation such as small birch, willow, moss, lichen, and grasses. These sites are generally near small ponds and mostly coastal, with nests being a large bowl-shaped structure of vegetation and added down feathers, measuring approximately 14.6 inches in diameter and 7.7 inches height.
Dite type
Aquatic invertebrate eater
General Info
Feeding Habits
Bird food type
Behavior
Steller's Eider display unique social dynamics, particularly during mating season. They form courting groups with multiple males competing for a single female's attention, engaging in group swims and coordinated flights. They exhibit distinctive courtship rituals, with silent male displays characterized by posturing, head shaking, and swimming patterns aimed to attract a mate. Aggressive behaviors are shown through bill-raising and chasing off rivals. Post-mating periods involve male displays of guarding but typically result in the male leaving after a fortnight. Females then independently incubate and rear the young near the nesting site. Once fledged, families move in flocks toward coastal molting sites, preparing for migration. Throughout the year, steller's Eider tend to flock together, notably avoiding association with other waterfowl or seabirds, save for occasional mingling with Spectacled Eiders.
Species Status
The Steller's eider is one of the species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) applies. There is an active recovery plan in Alaska.
Scientific Classification
Phylum
Chordates Class
Birds Order
Waterfowl Family
Geese Genus
Steller'S Eiders Species
Steller's Eider 
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