Common Eider
Somateria mollissima
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Cordats)
- ClassAves (Aus)
- OrderAnseriformes
- FamilyAnatidae (Anàtids)
- GenusSomateria (Typical Eiders)
- SpeciesSomateria mollissima (Common Eider)
The common eider (pronounced ) (Somateria mollissima), also called St. Cuthbert's duck or Cuddy's duck, is a large (50–71 cm (20–28 in) in body length) sea-duck that is distributed over the northern coasts of Europe, North America and eastern Siberia. It breeds in Arctic and some northern temperate regions, but winters somewhat farther south in temperate zones, when it can form large flocks on coastal waters. It can fly at speeds up to 113 km/h (70 mph). The eider's nest is built close to the sea and is lined with eiderdown, plucked from the female's breast. This soft and warm lining has long been harvested for filling pillows and quilts, but in more recent years has been largely replaced by down from domestic farm-geese and synthetic alternatives. Wikipedia →
20–30% of wildlife watchers report a Common Eider sighting in Gros Morne National Park, based on 209 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
Closest Relatives at Gros Morne National Park
American Black Duck
Anas rubripes
Canada Goose
Branta canadensis
Common Merganser
Mergus merganser
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos
Red-breasted Merganser
Mergus serrator
Lesser Scaup
Aythya affinis
Common Teal
Anas crecca
Ring-necked Duck
Aythya collaris
Harlequin Duck
Histrionicus histrionicus
Common Goldeneye
Bucephala clangula
American Wigeon
Mareca americana
Black Scoter
Melanitta americana
📅 Monthly Probability
☀️ When They're Spotted
Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)
Global Distribution
Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.
where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vatnajokull National Park | 🇮🇸 Iceland | |
| 2 | Acadia National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 3 | Wadden Sea National Park | 🇩🇪 Germany | |
| 4 | Cape Breton Highlands National Park | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 5 | Gros Morne National Park | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 6 | Snowdonia National Park | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | |
| 7 | Katmai National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 8 | Thingvellir National Park | 🇮🇸 Iceland | |
| 9 | Cairngorms National Park | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | |
| 10 | Kenai Fjords National Park | 🇺🇸 United States |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Common Eider in Gros Morne National Park?
About 21% of wildlife watchers report a Common Eider sighting in Gros Morne National Park, based on 209 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Common Eider in Gros Morne National Park?
October has the highest sighting rate for Common Eider in Gros Morne National Park in our monthly data.