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help needed, female king eider/female eider (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter F1F3R
- Start date
cheshirebirder
Well-known member
Saw one once with 3 female common eider. It was obviously smaller with a different head shape - less sloping than common eider on the forehead.F1F3R said:
thanx for the reply.
i noticed a few birdwatchers today at leven, fife, and last time im saw them they were watching a king eider duck. ( i personally didnt even know off this type. )
so went home and picked up my camera... when i returned they were gone lol.
so i had a look about and took few pics off a common goldeneye.
then i noticed a diving duck... quite large which made me look more closely at it .
i have a picture but its a terrible quality pic , as it wasnt ideal conditions for a canon 100 - 400 L .. too dark etc . ( plus im a newbi at taking pics which dosn't help lol )
so im sure its either a female Eider duck or female King eider which is rare here .
i noticed a few birdwatchers today at leven, fife, and last time im saw them they were watching a king eider duck. ( i personally didnt even know off this type. )
so went home and picked up my camera... when i returned they were gone lol.
so i had a look about and took few pics off a common goldeneye.
then i noticed a diving duck... quite large which made me look more closely at it .
i have a picture but its a terrible quality pic , as it wasnt ideal conditions for a canon 100 - 400 L .. too dark etc . ( plus im a newbi at taking pics which dosn't help lol )
so im sure its either a female Eider duck or female King eider which is rare here .
Lucky Birder
Notts Birder
Yes, King Eider would be less gingery ans probably show a distinct pale splodge above and behind the eye. The bill is also different.
JANJ
Well-known member
Best shown with som images.
King: Notice the Common Eider next to it, and the different flank pattern.
http://www.netfugl.dk/pictures.php?id=showpicture&picture_id=1008
Common:
http://www.gdphotography.com/1028.htm
King is 'smiling'
Common is 'serious'
King has scaly looking flanks.
Common has barred flanks
King has a shorther darker bill
Also notice the feather arrangement around the bill base, not so longish looking compared to common.
JanJ
King: Notice the Common Eider next to it, and the different flank pattern.
http://www.netfugl.dk/pictures.php?id=showpicture&picture_id=1008
Common:
http://www.gdphotography.com/1028.htm
King is 'smiling'
Common is 'serious'
King has scaly looking flanks.
Common has barred flanks
King has a shorther darker bill
Also notice the feather arrangement around the bill base, not so longish looking compared to common.
JanJ
Last edited:
Lucky Birder
Notts Birder
That's a nice photo.
Birdspotter
Well-known member
The best way i find female King Eider at distance is small size coupled with distinctive head shape,particuarly usefull when looking into the vast expanse of Aberlady, that is untill the Lothian bird dissapeared.
Closer views, a quick look at the flanks will sort you out, barred as in your photo of Common or chevrons as in King.
Closer views, a quick look at the flanks will sort you out, barred as in your photo of Common or chevrons as in King.
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