eider

Eider ducks are robustly built sea ducks that dive in shallow waters to feed on shellfish and even crabs. The female plucks the soft downy feathers from her breast and uses them to line the nest. Sitting eiders will allow humans to approach the nest without deserting. The bold markings of the male and the heavy-based bill make this duck easy to identify.

Large marine duck of the genus Somateria, family Anatidae, order Anseriformes. They are found on the northern coasts of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. The common eider S. molissima is highly valued for its soft down, which is used in quilts and cushions for warmth. The adult male has a black cap and belly and a green nape. The rest of the plumage is white with a pink breast and throat, while the female is a mottled brown. The bill is large and flattened and both bill and feet are olive green.

Other species are the king eider-duck S. spectablis, Steller's eider Polysticta stelleri, and the spectacled eider S. fischeri.

Eider

River in northern Germany forming the boundary between the regions of Schleswig and Holstein; length 188 km/117 mi. Its importance declined with the opening of the Kiel Canal, with which it is connected.