Species:

Eider (Somateria mollissima)

Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)

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Length (cm):
50-71
50-65
Wingspan (cm):
80-108
81-98
Weight (gram):
1500-2800
750-1450
Size group:
Bigger than a crow
Crow-size
Main Texts:
Appearance:

Large diving duck with elongated, triangular head profile and short neck. Male: white upperparts and black belly, black cap and two light green patches at back of head. Females are mostly barred in brown. Differs from King Eider by extended feathering on light tipped bill, triangular head profile with less steep forehead and lack of v-barred flanks. Flying birds gives a more elongated impression than King Eiders.

Sound:

Males call a typical, pleasant, clear, 2-3 second long "aaaooooooh". Starting on a low note, slowly ascending and ending on a descending note. Usually accompanied by the female "ga ga ga ga".

Display-call:

Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file


Distribution:

Wikipedia: map (se also Xeno-canto below)

Ecology:

Birdlife ecology

Links:

Observation.org Latest observations

Video IBC

Image search Flickr NB! May give other species

Sound search at Xeno-canto

Featherbase

CC

CC-photo:Paul Williams www.IronAmmonitePhotography.com, Licence,Link.

Sounds:Recorded by Stein Ø. Nilsen,http://www.xeno-canto.org ,CC license

Appearance:

In all plumages distinguished by blue or purple speculum boldly framed in white. Male: metallic green head, brown breast, grey body and yellow bill. Female: brownish with dark speckles. Bill with variable, uneven orange markings on sides. Differs from Gadwall and Pintail by being noticeably more heavily built.

Sound:

Female: A distinct coarse, laughing quacking; "haaa ha ha ha ha ha", with first note accented and then descending in pitch. Male: a more silent, very nasal "rriib". Display call a high-pitched short whistle.

Female:

Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file


Distribution:

Wikipedia: map (se also Xeno-canto below)

Ecology:

Birdlife ecology

Links:

Observation.org Latest observations

Video IBC

Image search Flickr NB! May give other species

Sound search at Xeno-canto

Featherbase

CC

Sounds:Recorded by Stein Ø. Nilsen,http://www.xeno-canto.org ,CC license

Similar species (image):
Similar species (sound):
Silhouette Group:
Duck-like
Silhouette
Duck-like
Silhouette
Several different images of the species
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Several different sounds of the species
Error loading Flash for sound!
See sound file