dcsimg
2013 Simon J. Tonge   cc-by-3.0

Somateria spectabilis (King Eider) is a species of birds in the family Anatidae. They are associated with freshwater habitat. They are native to Pacific Ocean, Arctic Ocean, the Palearctic, and The Nearctic. They are diurnal carnivores. Individuals can grow to 102 cm. They have parental care (paternal care and female provides care). They rely on drag powered swimming and flight to move around.

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  • URI: https://eol.org/schema/terms/drag_based_swimming
  • Definition: Drag swimmers use a cyclic motion where they push water back in a power stroke, and return their limb forward in the return or recovery stroke. When they push water directly backwards, this moves their body forward, but as they return their limbs to the starting position, they push water forward, which will thus pull them back to some degree, and so opposes the direction that the body is heading. This opposing force is called drag. The return-stroke drag causes drag swimmers to employ different strategies than lift swimmers. Reducing drag on the return stroke is essential for optimizing efficiency.
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Known occurrences, collected specimens and observations of King Eider. View this species on GBIF