Mixed King and Common Eider nesting (1 Viewer)

[pva]

Hello,

I've found two old articles (1958 and 1973) about the Eider farm Gisli Vagnsson in the north-western Iceland with one of the biggest Eider colony. In this colony there were several mixed nests - the males King Eider were mating with the females Common Eider. I couldn't find any further information about this farm, so I don't know whether it still exists, and if so, under what name.

Do you have any information about the mixed King and Common Eider nesting in Iceland today? If so - where does this happen? Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

 

[Edward]

Common Eider X King Eider hybrids are not infrequent in Iceland (close to 50 records, see here https://notendur.hi.is/yannk/status_sommxs.html) and King Eider is present in Iceland in small numbers throughout the year, invariaby with Common Eider and in summer often in Common Eider colonies. Here's a nice close up of one from eBird https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S27374052
The farm is probably at Mýrar in Dýrafjörður. The farm still exists but the farmer you mentioned is long dead I think. Common Eider is very common in that area and King Eider is surely regular but there aren't many observers. Check eBird although the list of observations is not complete

 

[pva]

Great, thank you for the information!