06 March 2011, 07:06
collectorKING EIDER
King Eider population is circumpolar and there are no sub-species defined within the King Eider species. So a King Eider is a King Eider no matter where in the world it came from. Best place to hunt is Alaska, followed by Greenland, followed by Russia.
COMMON EIDER
Common Eider gets a bit complicated. Here it goes....There are 6 sub-species of "Common" Eiders and in my opinion our American Eider (on the East Coast) is simply amazing. 4 out of 6 can be shot in North America (US & Canada) the other two (Eurpoean and Faeroe), you gotta go to Europe.
Here is a list of "Common" Eider sub-species for the inquisitive:
1) AMERICAN EIDER (Think New England's Atlantic Coast)
This is primarily the Eider hunted in and around Maine....most Americans when talking about Common Eiders mean this round lobed beauty.
2) EUROPEAN EIDER (Think Scandinavia, North Sea, Baltic Sea)
Slightly bigger than the American Eider...has pointy lobes.
3) HUDSON BAY EIDER (Think Canada, Hudson Bay)
Smaller than the American Eider...round lobes.
4) PACIFIC EIDER (Think Aleutian Islands, Northern Siberia)
He is THE BIGGEST, some drakes reaching 7 to 8 pounds
5) FAEROE EIDER (Think Northern UK, Iceland)
He is the smallest....and protected so you cannot hunt them.
6) NORTHERN EIDER (Think Russia, Iceland, Greenland, Baffin Island Canada)
Also known as Borealis Eider because it stays up real North. Pointy lobes.
The picture that DuggaBoye posted of the Common Eider is actually of this sub-species....Borealis Eider is usually NOT found in USA. Occasionally someone bags one in Maine and then the duck sites on the internet go crazy....so just wanted to make it clear that is NOT a sub-species that is commonly found in USA.
Here is a comparison chart I made recently...hopefully it will show you the differences.
