Eider

"Somateria mollissima"

The common Eider is a large sea duck and is the heaviest and fastest flying duck.

It is rarely found away from the coast and is a true sea duck. It feeds on shellfish and especially mussels.

It is an amber listed species.

It is between 51 and 72cm in length.

It has a wingspan of between 80 and 108cm

It weighs in at 1.2 to 2.8kg

There are estimated to be 26,000 pairs in the uk.

Eider