Just got my Borealis pair back from the taxidermist.




You can try for them in Maine, they do show up there every now and then. Chance of getting them in Maine are about the same as getting a King Eider in Maine. So it is doable....or go very far up North and hunt them in Borealis territory....that will turn a few ballhairs grey in a jiffy It is a very hard hunt.

The sail feathers on the Borealis are much more prominent than any of the other 6 Common Eider sub-species....even the older females support beautiful long sail feathers. Head-shape, head-colors, shape of Lobes are completely different from other eiders.

A regular taxidermist will not know what to do with these....they must be mounted by someone knowledgeable. Beaks and lobes will need to be custom molded for both male and female and the beak coloration is also quite complex. So after one has hunted their American Eider, and the King Eider, and the Pacific Eider....then if that person wants to punish themselves even more then and only then I would advise you to go after the Borealis. There are only a handful of these birds in collections in USA.

Wow, you just keep the hits coming don't you, Oz? Gorgeous. I've never taken one, but I'm pretty sure Jack has. I know he has a couple pics with two eider side by side, and the difference is clear. Awesome.

Oh, and um, not to break your chops too much, but 'beak'? How about 'bill'?

I think I figured out who does your taxidermy.
he just does Birds.

the expert is on it again I see

@KamoGari
Thank you, I knew you will know how incredibly rare these birds are. Unfortunately the ones that get shot in Maine get breasted out with rest of the pack (OUCH...makes me cringe). A knowledgeable ducker like Captain Jack sure would know how to spot them. Todd Jackson (from Penobscot Bay) said that they took an immature and a mature drake recently. Todd is pretty sharp and knows his birds. He also said that a blue-head (King drake) was also in his area (in Maine) but has not decoyed as of yet. P.S. And yes "Bill" or "Beak", you can use them interchangeably when talking Avian lingo, I do not have a preference...although some taxidermists get their panties up in a bunch if you use one over the other.

@blaser93
Good call...I usually do not send my birds to someone who does both animals as well as birds.

@Goldeneye
You are too kind, thank you.

Do you use Birdman Studios in Trinidad, Co for taxidermy?

Collector and KG,

Love these posts w/pics that you both continually put up, NE Sea Duck hunt is certainly on my "list"

This may be a dumb question, but how do you eat those things ?? I tried to cook up a Barrow's Goldeneye one time, stunk up the whole house ... just curious

Thanx Gents,

Best Regards,
Craig Nolan

@HuntLogic
Todd has worked on some of my birds....he is a great photographer and his bird taxidermy skills have improved significantly over the years. His waterfowl are good, but his upland birds are great.

@Craig Nolan
I have had Eiders breast cooked medium-rare (pink center) with black currant sauce that was to die for. Have had smoked scoter meat that was out of this world. A friend of mine from Louisiana who is a trained French Chef made excellent King Eider tacos. So I guess it all boils down to who is doing the cooking

Very nice my friend!

We've taken exactly two, both drakes, over the years.

I think more Like Fly away Taxidermy