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 40 records in the project database.

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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)


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