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Common Eider（Common Eider） Photo: Ryzhkov Sergey · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗
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Ducks, geese and swansLocal resident, not common throughout Ireland

Somateria mollissima

Common Eider

A large sea duck most readily found along northern coasts.

A recording has not been added yet. Use the identification notes below for now.

I know this bird · Record a sighting Where to look & how to find it ↓

FIELDCRAFT · FIND WITH CARE

Finding guide

Locally distributed

Choose the season, find the habitat, then watch patiently. Search guidance is not a measure of rarity or conservation status.

When to go
All year, but locally distributed
Where to start
Especially rocky shores and bays in the north and northeast.
What to do when you arrive
Prioritise northern and northeastern coasts, comparing large ducks' wedge-shaped heads and plumage from harbour shores. Captive birds in collections are not wild occurrence records.

Habitat and behaviour reference: BirdWatch Ireland ↗ · The practical steps are editorial advice based on the references, not live sightings.

Public visiting destinations on the island of Ireland Numbers correspond to the destination descriptions below; markers are not wildlife locations or entrance directions. 1. Rathlin · Church Bay public shore. 1 DESTINATIONS · NOT FOR NAVIGATION
What does the map mark?

Markers show approximate public destinations or visitor bases, not individuals, nests, rare plants or exact entrances. Follow the operator’s routes and signs for access.

Base map: Natural Earth · Public domain
Destination positions: © OpenStreetMap contributors · ODbL

  1. Rathlin · Church Bay public shore

    Dated observation report

    An RSPB Antrim report recorded wild Eider at Church Bay on 12 June 2023. This is a dated record, not live news or a record from the West Light platform.

    Before you goCheck ferries and weather; watch from public shore, outside working harbour areas and rock crevices. Island transport and the West Light centre have separate seasonal arrangements.

    Official routes & visiting information ↗ Find the destination on OpenStreetMap ↗
    Destination evidence & review date

    Sources reviewed: · A review date is not a sighting date; recheck access before travelling.

SPECIES NOTESSpecies notes
01

How to identify it

Long sloping forehead and wedge-shaped bill. Males are black-and-white with a dark crown and pale green nape; females are barred brown but retain the distinctive head shape.

02

Habitat

Bays, harbours, coastal waters and offshore islands.

03

Behaviour

Dives for mussels and crustaceans, often in coastal groups.

04

When to look

All year, but locally distributed

05

Where to look

Especially rocky shores and bays in the north and northeast.

Reference photos do not show every sex, age, season or geographic form; use the identification notes too.

Further reading:BirdWatch Ireland ↗ · Wikipedia ↗

COMMUNITY SIGHTINGS

Recent encounters

0 public sightings
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