King Eider Somateria spectabilis (Linnaeus, 1758)    Synonyms: KIEI.
Kingdom Animalia   >   Phylum Chordata   >   Class Aves   >   Order Anseriformes   >   Family Anatidae   >   Genus Somateria   

Status:

Very rare in Maryland, but the vast majority of records occur among Common Eiders at the Ocean City Inlet. More likely to occur as an inland stray or on the Chesapeake Bay than Common Eider. Poplar Island has hosted several summering individuals over the years.

There are 39 records in the project database.

View full eBird Range Map

View taxon at iNaturalist

View taxon at NatureServe

Search Google Images

Search MBP Facebook posts (beta | requires login)


[View seasonality details]
GA ALWAFRCLMO HO BABCHACEPGAA CV CHSM KEQA CNTA DO WISOWO 
A King Eider on Poplar Island in Talbot Co., Maryland (7/27/2010). Photo by Jim Stasz. (MBP list)

A King Eider in Talbot Co., Maryland (9/9/2014). Photo by Tim Carney. (MBP list)

A hen King Eider in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (2/2/2014). Photo by Jared Fisher. (MBP list)

A hen King Eider in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (2/2/2014). Photo by Ryan Johnson. (MBP list)

A King Eider in Worcester Co., Maryland (12/27/2020). (c) Tim Frye, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Tim Frye via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

A King Eider in Worcester Co., Maryland (12/27/2020). (c) Tim Frye, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Tim Frye via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

A King Eider at Point Lookout SP, Maryland (1/10/2008). Photo by Mark Hoffman. (MBP list)

A male King Eider in flight in Worcester Co., Maryland (4/25/2014). Photo by Dave Czaplak. (MBP list)

An adult drake King Eider at Cape Cod Canal, Sandwich, Massachusetts (3/23/2013). Photo by Jeremiah Trimble. (MBP list)

A hen King Eider at Chatham Light, Chatham, Massachusetts (12/16/2011). Photo by Jeremiah Trimble. (MBP list)

A King Eider in Cape May Co., New Jersey (12/31/2012). Photo by Sam Galick. (MBP list)

A King Eider in Howard Co., Maryland (12/16/2017). Photo by Kevin Heffernan. (MBP list)

A King Eider in Howard Co., Maryland (12/16/2017). Photo by Kevin Heffernan. (MBP list)

King Eider in Howard Co., Maryland (12/16/2017). Photo by Joe Hanfman. (MBP list)

A King Eider just before sunrise on the beach in North Beach, Calvert Co., Maryland (5/20/1986). Photo by Jim Stasz. (MBP list)


View All Images

Use of images featured on Maryland Biodiversity Project is only permitted with express permission of the photographer.

View Bibliography