Pair at Alaska SeaLife Center, Seward, Alaska
Credit: Laura L. Whitehouse/USFWS

North American field guide

Steller's Eider

Polysticta stelleri

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Identification

Field notes

43 cm (17") Rare. Alaskan coast. May winter to southern California. Small Mallard-shaped eider.

Male: white head with a black eye patch, green patch on back of head, black chin and throat collar that continues along back. Creamy buff underneath. A black spot on front side of bird.

Female: dark mottled brown overall.

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Videos

2 videos
Bird Advisor Identification rules 2 variants 2 rules

These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.

Steller's Eider (Female)

1 rule
Rule 1 13 criteria confidence 1
What colour was the SIDE ?
Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?
Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?
Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?
Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BILL ?
Blue · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?
Flattened · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?
Medium · Long · Unknown
What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?
Light area over, below, behind or around the eye · Crest of feathers on top of the head · Ear "tufts" or horns · NONE of the above or a PLAIN unmarked FACE · Unknown
What colour were the EYES ?
Red, orange or rusty · Brown or blackish brown · Black or dark gray · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?
Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?
Pigeon-sized · Crow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?
Duck or Goose-like
WHERE was the bird seen ?
Northwestern Canada or United States
result:772-steller-s-eider-female:1:1 Source: 772 Steller's Eider (Female), row 1

Steller's Eider (Male)

1 rule
Rule 1 13 criteria confidence 1
What colour was the SIDE ?
White, or pale (grayish-white) · Yellow · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Olive (yellowish-green) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?
White, or pale (grayish-white) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?
White, or pale (grayish-white) · Yellow · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Olive (yellowish-green) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?
Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BILL ?
Blue · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?
Flattened · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?
Medium · Long · Unknown
What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?
Dark area behind, under, through or around the eye · Crest of feathers on top of the head · Ear "tufts" or horns · Unknown
What colour were the EYES ?
Red, orange or rusty · Brown or blackish brown · Black or dark gray · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?
White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?
Pigeon-sized · Crow-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?
Duck or Goose-like
WHERE was the bird seen ?
Northwestern Canada or United States