Steller's eider is a migratory Arctic sea duck that breeds along the coastlines of Russia and Alaska, as well as in the Baltic Sea. It is the rarest, smallest, and fastest flying of the duck species known as eiders. However, it is not a true eider, with it being the only member of the distantly related genus Polysticta.
Region
Arctic North Pacific and Baltic Sea
Typical Environment
Breeds patchily on low-lying Arctic tundra near shallow ponds and wetlands across northern Russia and parts of coastal Alaska. In winter it concentrates in shallow marine waters, polynyas, and coastal lagoons along the Bering Sea, Barents Sea, and the Baltic Sea. It favors protected coastlines, tidal flats, and nearshore areas with rich benthic invertebrate communities. Molting flocks gather in sheltered bays where food is abundant and disturbance is low.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 500 m
Climate Zone
Polar
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Steller's eider is the smallest and among the fastest-flying of the eiders, yet it is not a true eider and is the sole member of the genus Polysticta. Males are strikingly patterned and form large, dense flocks on coastal waters in winter. The species breeds sparsely on Arctic tundra and winters in concentrated coastal sites, making it vulnerable to localized threats. It was first described by the naturalist Georg Wilhelm Steller in the Kamchatka region.
Male Steller's eider in breeding plumage
Marshy tundra, Alaska, U.S.
A mixed flock of Steller's eiders and Long-tailed ducks
![Global population estimates of Steller's eider[24]](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d9/Steller%27s_Eider_Global_population_estimates.png/960px-Steller%27s_Eider_Global_population_estimates.png)
Global population estimates of Steller's eider[24]
Temperament
social and active
Flight Pattern
fast, with rapid wingbeats; low over water
Social Behavior
Outside the breeding season it forms large, tightly packed flocks on coastal waters, sometimes numbering thousands. Breeding is sparse and often semi-colonial, with nests hidden in tundra vegetation near freshwater. Pairs form on wintering grounds or during spring migration, and both sexes are attentive around nesting sites.
Migratory Pattern
Seasonal migrant
Song Description
Males give soft, cooing and whistled notes during courtship, often in series. Both sexes produce low quacks and grunts, with calls carrying over calm water in flocks.
Plumage
Males show a white head with a bold black eye patch, greenish nape wash, black back with long white scapulars, and rich chestnut underparts; females are mottled brown with fine barring and a more uniform appearance.
Diet
Primarily takes marine invertebrates such as mollusks, crustaceans, and amphipods by diving and dabbling in shallow water. During the breeding season it shifts to aquatic insects and larvae gathered from tundra ponds and marsh edges. Occasional plant material may be consumed but forms a minor part of the diet.
Preferred Environment
Feeds in shallow coastal zones, tidal flats, estuaries, and protected bays where benthic prey is accessible. On the tundra, it forages in small ponds, wetlands, and flooded depressions near the nest.
