Common Eider

Somateria mollissima

General Status Rank: 
Sensitive
ELCODE: 
ABNJB12010
Common Name: 
Common Eider
Scientific Name: 
Somateria mollissima
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Taxonomy
Group: 
Bird
Kingdom: 
Animalia
Phylum: 
Chordata
Class: 
Aves
Order: 
Anseriformes
Family: 
Anatidae
References: 
B004
General Biology

Female Age at Maturity

3
References: 
B999

Economic/Human Considerations

important to subsistence hunters in the north, sport hunters in southern Canada and US
References: 
H131
Habitat
marine coastal spp
References: 
B004
H131
Distribution

Ecozones

Arctic Cordillera, Northern Arctic, Southern Arctic
References: 
B004

Distribution

6/164 = 0.04, Restricted in NWT, Regional in NU (B004); range covers ~5% of NT coastal areas (NT mainland coast and Banks, Victoria and Melville Islands). Range extent visually estimated from range map in "Distribution of birds in NWT & Nunavut: 2009 Review" (CWS).
Score: 
F
References: 
B004
Winter Distribution Description: 
coastal

Number of Occurrences

colonial, exact numbers unknown
References: 
B004

Historical Distribution

unknown, but possibly similar to present
References: 
H131

Area of Occupancy

unknown, but likely stable
Score: 
-
References: 
GG7
R266
Population

Population Size

Counts completed of COEI in 2003 and 2004 estimated the total Canadian Pacific population at ~100,000 individuals, >50% of them breed in the central arctic in Nunavut (R266.). No population estimate exists for NWT.
References: 
R266

Density

colonial
Trends

Trends

Canadian population declined from 156,000 in 1976 to 100,000 in 2003-04 (~36% decline), but previous surveys had shown >50% decline (R266).
Score: 
E
References: 
GG7
R266
Threats

Threats

Pacific Common Eiders are particularly vulnerable to oil spills because they congregate in large, dense, flocks during winter, molting and migration. Discovery of off-shore oil and gas reserves in two key spring staging areas as well as increasing resource development in Canadian Arctic breeding areas will likely result in increased human activity and may have potential adverse effects on this population (R266)
Score: 
B
References: 
B888
R266

Intrinsic Vulnerability

possibly pollution, development, global climate change
Score: 
-
References: 
B888
R266
General Status Rank
Rank: 
Sensitive
Status Rank Description: 
Declines but uncertain numbers
S Rank: 
S3
Decision Process Description: 
Drafted by Grant Gilchrist and S. Carriere based mostly on printed material in 2000; Reviewed in 2005 by J. Hines and C. Swoboda, no change in status.; Reviewed in 2010;no change ; Reviewed by Ian Fife and Cindy Wood CWS in 2015, no change
Last Updated: 
February 17, 2015

References

Age Of Maturity

  • Bellrose, RC (1980) Ducks, geese, and swans of North America. Wildlife Mangement Institute and Stackpole Books 3rd edition CWS office. Yellowknife - B999 Return

Area of Occupancy

  • Sea Duck Joint Venture Management Board (1999) Sea Duck Joint Venture Prospectus. Sea Duck Joint Venture Management Board February 1999 CWS office. Yellowknife - GG7 Return
  • Canadian Wildlife Service Waterfowl Committee. 2014. Population Status of Migratory Game Birds in Canada: November 2014. CWS Migratory Birds Regulatory Report Number 44. (2014) CWS Migratory Birds Regulatory Report Number 44. - R266 Return

Economic Status

  • Gilchrist Grant (2000) Pers. communication. Wildlife Population Biologist, Eastern Arctic, CWS Yellowknife - H131 Return

Ecozones

  • Godfrey WE (1986) The Birds of Canada. National Museums of Canada Revised Edition RWED Library Call #QL685.G6 - B004 Return

Habitat

  • Godfrey WE (1986) The Birds of Canada. National Museums of Canada Revised Edition RWED Library Call #QL685.G6 - B004 Return
  • Gilchrist Grant (2000) Pers. communication. Wildlife Population Biologist, Eastern Arctic, CWS Yellowknife - H131 Return

Historical Distribution

  • Gilchrist Grant (2000) Pers. communication. Wildlife Population Biologist, Eastern Arctic, CWS Yellowknife - H131 Return

Intrinsic Vulnerability

  • Filion A, and KM Dickson (eds.) (1999) Status of migratory game birds in Canada - November 2, 1999.. Unpublished report. Canadian Wildlife Service. CWS office. Yellowknife, Ottawa. - B888 Return
  • Canadian Wildlife Service Waterfowl Committee. 2014. Population Status of Migratory Game Birds in Canada: November 2014. CWS Migratory Birds Regulatory Report Number 44. (2014) CWS Migratory Birds Regulatory Report Number 44. - R266 Return

NWT Known Subspecies

Godfrey WE (1986) The Birds of Canada. National Museums of Canada Revised Edition RWED Library Call #QL685.G6 - B004 Return

Number of Occurrences

  • Godfrey WE (1986) The Birds of Canada. National Museums of Canada Revised Edition RWED Library Call #QL685.G6 - B004 Return

Population Size

Canadian Wildlife Service Waterfowl Committee. 2014. Population Status of Migratory Game Birds in Canada: November 2014. CWS Migratory Birds Regulatory Report Number 44. (2014) CWS Migratory Birds Regulatory Report Number 44. - R266 Return

Range Extent

  • Godfrey WE (1986) The Birds of Canada. National Museums of Canada Revised Edition RWED Library Call #QL685.G6 - B004 Return

Short Term Trends

  • Sea Duck Joint Venture Management Board (1999) Sea Duck Joint Venture Prospectus. Sea Duck Joint Venture Management Board February 1999 CWS office. Yellowknife - GG7 Return
  • Canadian Wildlife Service Waterfowl Committee. 2014. Population Status of Migratory Game Birds in Canada: November 2014. CWS Migratory Birds Regulatory Report Number 44. (2014) CWS Migratory Birds Regulatory Report Number 44. - R266 Return

Taxonomy

  • Godfrey WE (1986) The Birds of Canada. National Museums of Canada Revised Edition RWED Library Call #QL685.G6 - B004 Return

Threats

  • Filion A, and KM Dickson (eds.) (1999) Status of migratory game birds in Canada - November 2, 1999.. Unpublished report. Canadian Wildlife Service. CWS office. Yellowknife, Ottawa. - B888 Return
  • Canadian Wildlife Service Waterfowl Committee. 2014. Population Status of Migratory Game Birds in Canada: November 2014. CWS Migratory Birds Regulatory Report Number 44. (2014) CWS Migratory Birds Regulatory Report Number 44. - R266 Return