King Eider

Somateria spectabilis

General Status Rank: 
Sensitive
ELCODE: 
ABNJB12020
Common Name: 
King Eider
Scientific Name: 
Somateria spectabilis
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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

Longevity

oldest recorded in the wild 15 years
References: 
CS03

Economic/Human Considerations

important to subsistence hunters in the north, sport hunters in southern Canada and US
References: 
H131
H132
Habitat
tundra freshwater near to coast
References: 
B004
H131
H132
Distribution

Ecozones

Arctic Cordillera, Northern Arctic, Southern Arctic, Taiga Shield
References: 
B004

Distribution

0.3 (B004); range cover ~15% of of NWT area. Range extent visually estimated from range map in "Distribution of birds in NWT & Nunavut: 2009 Review" (CWS).
Score: 
FG
References: 
B004
Winter Distribution Description: 
oopen marine waters - Aleutian Isls. and southern Alaska coast in the west, and Atlantic coast from Labrador south to Virginia

Number of Occurrences

exact numbers unknown, but likely more than 1000,not colonial
References: 
H131
H132

Historical Distribution

unknown, but possibly similar to present
References: 
H127

Area of Occupancy

unknown but likely stable
Score: 
-
References: 
R266
Population

Population Size

good est Unknown, but likely more than 10,000. Continental population estimate of western population of KIEI in 2004 estimated ~ 592,000 birds (R266)
Score: 
F
References: 
R266

Density

not colonial
Trends

Trends

over the last 20 years western population of KIEI declined by ~54% but data in 2003 and 2004 suggest the population may have stabilized (R266)Aerial transect surveys on western Victoria Island suggest that the King Eider population breeding on western Victoria Island declined by 54% between the early 1990s and 2004–2005 (Raven and Dickson 2006 in R266). The greatest decline occurred around Holman, the only community in the survey area.
Score: 
DG
References: 
R266
Threats

Threats

King Eiders are particularly vulnerable to oil spills because they congregate in large, dense, flocks during molting and migration. 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
S Rank: 
S3S4
Decision Process Description: 
Drafted by Grant Gilchrist and Myra Rpbertson, reviewed by S. Carriere based mostly on printed material in 2000; Reviewed in 2005 by J. Hines and C. Swoboda based on printed literature only, 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

  • 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
  • Robertson Myra (2000) Pers. communication. Wildlife Population Technician, Eastern Arctic, CWS Yellowknife - H132 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
  • Robertson Myra (2000) Pers. communication. Wildlife Population Technician, Eastern Arctic, CWS Yellowknife - H132 Return

Historical Distribution

  • Hines, Jim (2000) Pers. communication. Wildlife biologist, CWS, Yellowknife - H127 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

Longevity

  • Suydam, R. S (2000) King Eider (Somateria spectabilis) in Birds of North America. The Academy of Natural Sciences and The American Ornithologists' Union, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. No. 491 - CS03 Return

NWT Known Subspecies

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

Number of Occurrences

  • Gilchrist Grant (2000) Pers. communication. Wildlife Population Biologist, Eastern Arctic, CWS Yellowknife - H131 Return
  • Robertson Myra (2000) Pers. communication. Wildlife Population Technician, Eastern Arctic, CWS Yellowknife - H132 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

  • 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