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Homescience

Common Eider: World’s Largest Diving Duck

Explore about world's largest diving duck, Common Eider renowned for its striking appearance, social behaviour and remarkable diving abilities.

Gurpreet Singh | October 15, 2025 / 16:21 IST
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1. Common Eider: The Common Eider is North America’s largest diving duck, famous for its impressive size and striking plumage. (Image: Canva)
1. Common Eider: The Common Eider is North America’s largest diving duck, famous for its impressive size and striking plumage. (Image: Canva)
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2. Majestic Male Appearance: Males showcase bold black-and-white feathers with a greenish nape, making them easily distinguishable from females in the wild. (Image: Canva)
2. Majestic Male Appearance: Males showcase bold black-and-white feathers with a greenish nape, making them easily distinguishable from females in the wild. (Image: Canva)
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3. Camouflaged Female: Female Common Eiders have brown mottled plumage that provides excellent camouflage while nesting along rocky coastlines. (Image: Canva)
3. Camouflaged Female: Female Common Eiders have brown mottled plumage that provides excellent camouflage while nesting along rocky coastlines. (Image: Canva)
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4. Size Matters: Measuring up to 90 cm long and weighing over 3 kg, the Common Eider is the largest diving duck species. (Image: Canva)
4. Size Matters: Measuring up to 90 cm long and weighing over 3 kg, the Common Eider is the largest diving duck species. (Image: Canva)
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5. Reproductive Methods: Common Eiders are monogamous during the breeding season. Females lay 4–6 camouflaged eggs in shallow, down-lined nests. (Image: Canva)
5. Reproductive Methods: Common Eiders are monogamous during the breeding season. Females lay 4–6 camouflaged eggs in shallow, down-lined nests. (Image: Canva)
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6. Diving for Dinner: These ducks are expert divers, plunging underwater to feed on mollusks, crustaceans and sea urchins in shallow coastal waters. (Image: Canva)
6. Diving for Dinner: These ducks are expert divers, plunging underwater to feed on mollusks, crustaceans and sea urchins in shallow coastal waters. (Image: Canva)
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7. Defense Mechanisms: Common Eiders protect their nests by nesting in colonies, using camouflage, and females aggressively defending eggs from predators. (Image: Canva)
7. Defense Mechanisms: Common Eiders protect their nests by nesting in colonies, using camouflage, and females aggressively defending eggs from predators. (Image: Canva)
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8. Coastal Habitat: They prefer northern coastal waters, nesting on islands and rocky shores in Canada, Alaska and parts of the Atlantic. (Image: Canva)
8. Coastal Habitat: They prefer northern coastal waters, nesting on islands and rocky shores in Canada, Alaska and parts of the Atlantic. (Image: Canva)
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9. Migration Patterns: Common Eiders migrate seasonally, moving south in winter to avoid ice-covered waters while returning north to breed in spring. (Image: Canva)
9. Migration Patterns: Common Eiders migrate seasonally, moving south in winter to avoid ice-covered waters while returning north to breed in spring. (Image: Canva)
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10. Lifespan: Common Eiders typically live 10–20 years in the wild, with survival depending on predation, harsh winters and human impacts. (Image: Canva)
10. Lifespan: Common Eiders typically live 10–20 years in the wild, with survival depending on predation, harsh winters and human impacts. (Image: Canva)

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