Spectacled Eider Similar Species Comparison
Main SpeciesSpectacled Eider
Male
Spectacular large duck of Alaska and Russia. Males have large, sloping orange bill, white back and black underparts. Distinctive face pattern of white "spectacles" outlined in black, with greenish back of the head.
© Marco Valentini / Macaulay LibraryAlaska, June 17, 2019Female
Large duck with long, sloping bill and forehead. Females are brown, barred with darker brown, paler on the face with hint of male's "spectacle" pattern.
© Ian Davies / Macaulay LibraryAlaska, July 01, 2018Male
Large duck with sloping forehead and bill. Males have green wash on back of head, bright white spectacles, dark forehead, and orange bill.
© Larry Arbanas / Macaulay LibraryAlaska, June 18, 2007Not all videos have sound
Male
Large duck with white patches over the eye and orange bill. In flight, note white back and wing coverts, black flight feathers and underparts with white flank patch.
© Andrew Spencer / Macaulay LibraryAlaska, June 12, 2013Female
Large duck with sloping bill and forehead. Females are densely barred with dark brown. Note brown forehead and paler face hinting at male's "spectacled" pattern.
© Ian Davies / Macaulay LibraryAlaska, July 01, 2018Male and female
Large ducks with sloping bill and forehead. Males are strongly patterned with orange bill, white spectacles, greenish back of head, and white-and-black body. Females are barred brown with black bill and pale brown "spectacles."
© Tom Auer / Macaulay LibraryAlaska, June 21, 2019Male
Breeds in grass and sedge wetlands, dabbling for insects and seeds. Males depart soon after females lay eggs, for molting and wintering areas in the Bering Sea.
© Mitch Walters / Macaulay LibraryAlaska, June 23, 2016Male and female
Males are distinctive with orange bill, white "spectacles" on dark head, and white-and-black body. For females, look for dark forehead with pale echo of male's spectacle pattern.
© Ian Davies / Macaulay LibraryAlaska, June 13, 2012Similar SpeciesCommon Eider
Female (Dresser's)
Common Eiders are larger than Spectacled Eiders, with a longer bill. Female Common Eiders have uniform brown faces, whereas female Spectacled has a dark forehead with paler "spectacle" patches around the eyes. Female Common also tends to be more strongly barred than female Spectacled.
© Evan Lipton / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, November 16, 2016Similar SpeciesCommon Eider
Female (Northern)
Larger than Spectacled Eider, with a longer bill. Female Common Eider has a uniformly brown face, without the large pale "spectacle" patches of female Spectacled Eider.
© Ryan Schain / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, December 10, 2011Similar SpeciesKing Eider
Female
Female King Eiders lack the large pale "spectacle" patches that female Spectacled Eiders show.
© Evan Lipton / Macaulay LibraryRhode Island, July 30, 2018Similar SpeciesCommon Eider
Male (Dresser's)
Larger than Spectacled Eider. Male Common Eiders have a dark cap and white cheek, without the large "spectacle" patch around the eye or the orange bill of male Spectacled.
© Kojo Baidoo / Macaulay LibraryNew Jersey, January 18, 2021Similar SpeciesKing Eider
Male
Male King Eiders have a bulge at the base of the bill and lack the prominent white "spectacle" patch of male Spectacled Eider. Note also male King Eider's greenish face, blue-gray crown and nape, and black back.
© Ian Davies / Macaulay LibraryAlaska, June 20, 2013Rotate Your Device to Better Compare
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Species in This Family
Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl(Order: Anseriformes, Family: Anatidae)
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