104 
ANSERIFORMES 
157. Steller’s Eider, l’eider de steller. Polysticla steUeri. L, 17. The smallest 
and the least eider-like of any of the birds known under that name. Male: white, except 
for the following details — neck all around and back, iridescent blue-black. The head is 
peculiarly silvery in its whiteness, with a throat patch and spot encircling the eye of dead 
black. A small, dark, sap-green nape crest and a suffusion of same colour in front of eye 
(Figure 154). Below — abdomen to tail very dark, carbonized brown suffusing up flanks 
and breast in a lighter burnt vinaceous tint — as though the bird had squatted on a hot 
plate. A group of narrow feathers, striped iridescent black and white, falling in curved 
plumes over the secondaries on the closed wing. The female is rich dark brown, with 
suggestion of scorching below, more or less crossbarred with lighter on upper breast, neck, 
and face. Both sexes have an iridescent, blue-black speculum bordered each side with 
white like a Mallard (See Figure 127, page 88). 
Distinctions. In the male the general coloration, 
especially the silvery sheen of the face and crown. In the 
female general dark brown colour, crossbarring on breast 
and face, and white-bordered blue speculum. 
Field Marks. Probably, large amount of white on 
body, black neck and throat, and silver-white face and 
crown make as good field marks for adult male as can be 
given. Except within its natural range not to be recorded 
on sight identification. 
Nesting. On the ground of the tundra. 
Distribution. Coast of Bering Sea and adjoining 
Arctic Ocean. Occurs occasionally east to the Yukon 
coast, possibly beyond. More common on Siberian side 
of Bering Strait. 
A distinctively beautiful bird to be expected in Canada only along the 
extreme western Arctic coast or as a possible rare straggler on the Pacific. 
160. Common Eider Duck, le moyac (T Eider). Somaleria mollissima. L, 23. 
Male: black below, cutting sharply against the white breast which is delicately suffused 
with vinaceous pink; white above; head white with nile-green suffusion from cheeks to 
nape; broad black on crown and through eye to hind head. Female: evenly coloured 
in a fine pattern of various browns, blacks, and light ochres arranged in broken bars around 
the body. Bill processes extending up either side of forehead in long, fleshy tongues. 
Distinctions. An eastern coast species. 
The male is mistakable for no other eastern 
species, but differs from the Pacific Eider in 
lacking the black V line on the throat. The 
female is much like that of the King Eider, 
but the feathering of the sides of the cheek 
extend forward to be in line with the nostrils 
instead of stopping well back from them 
(Compare Figures 155 and 156 with 157). 
Field Marks. Size and general color- 
ation. 
Nesting. On ground, nest built entirely 
of down. 
Distribution. The Eider Duck inhabits northern parts of Europe and eastern America. 
A strictly Atlantic bird breeding in the eastern Canadian Arctic and in Greenland. 
SUBSPECIES. The American Eiders differ slightly from those of Europe and 
Greenland and are referred to two subspecies — the Northern Eider (Le Moyac du Nord) 
Somaleria mollissima borealis with the bill processes sharp and pointed and inhabiting the 
northern waters from some place on Labrador northward, and the Southern Eider (Le 
Moyac du Sud) Somaleria mollissima dresseri with broad, rounded bill processes, breeding 
from northern Maine to southern Labrador. 
In Scandinavia and Iceland the Eiders are semi-domesticated and the 
down derived from their nests is an important source of revenue. Though 
on the Labrador and Gulf of St. Lawrence coasts there are immense flocks of 
these birds little attempt has been made to turn them to account except 
Figure 155 
American Eider Duck; scale, $. 
Female Male 
Figure 154 
Steller’s Eider; scale, J. 
Female Male 
