Species Profile
Environmental Conservation Online System

Spectacled eider (Somateria fischeri)

Kingdom: Animalia
Class: Aves
Order: Anseriformes
Family: Anatidae

Listing Status:   

General Information

Spectacled eiders are large sea ducks, 52‑56 centimeters long (20‑22 inches). In the winter and spring, adult males are in breeding plumage with a black chest, white back, and pale green head with a long, sloping forehead and white spectacle‑like patches around the eyes. During the late summer and fall, males are entirely mottled brown. Females and juveniles are mottled brown year‑round with pale brown eye patches.

Lead Region:  Alaska Region (Region 7)
Date Listed: May 10, 1993

  • States/US Territories in which the Spectacled eider is known to occur:  Alaska
  • USFWS Refuges in which the Spectacled eider is known to occur:  ALASKA MARITIME NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE , ARCTIC NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE , TOGIAK NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE , YUKON DELTA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
  • Countries in which the the Spectacled eider is known to occur:  Russia
  • For more information:  http://alaska.fws.gov/media/SpecEider_FactSheet.htm

» Federal Register Documents

Most Recent Federal Register Documents (Showing 5 of 9 : view all)
Date Citation Page Title
02/06/2001 66 FR 9146 9185 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Final Determination of Critical Habitat for the Spectacled Eider; Final Rule
08/24/2000 65 FR 51577 51578 Extension of Comment Periods and Notice of Availability of Draft Economic Analyses on Proposed Critical Habitat Determinations for the Spectacled Eider and Steller's Eider
07/31/2000 65 FR 46684 46685 Notice of Public Hearing on Critical Habitat for the Spectacled Eider and Steller's Eider
07/05/2000 65 FR 41404 41405 Extension of Comment Periods on Proposed Critical Habitat for the Spectacled Eider and Steller's Eider
04/19/2000 65 FR 20938 20939 Extension of Comment Periods on Proposed Critical Habitat for the Spectacled Eider and Steller's Eider

» Recovery

Recovery Plan Information Search
Current Recovery Plan(s)
Date Title Plan Action Status Plan Status
08/12/1996 Spectacled Eider View Implementation Progress Final
08/12/2008 Spectacled Eider Recovery Taks List December 2007 View Implementation Progress Final
Other Recovery Documents (Showing 1 of 1 )
Date Citation Page Title Document Type
08/24/2000 65 FR 51577 51578 Extension of Comment Periods and Notice of Availability of Draft Economic Analyses on Proposed Critical Habitat Determinations for the Spectacled Eider and Steller's Eider
  • Notice Critical Habitat
  • Notice Doc. Availability
  • Notice Reopen Comment

    • » Critical Habitat

    Current Critical Habitat Documents (Showing 2 of 2 )
    Date Citation Page Title Document Type Status
    02/06/2001 66 FR 9146 9185 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Final Determination of Critical Habitat for the Spectacled Eider; Final Rule Final Rule Active
    02/08/2000 65 FR 6114 6131 Proposed Designation of Critical Habitat for the Spectacled Eider Proposed Rule Not Required

    To learn more about critical habitat please see http://criticalhabitat.fws.gov

    » Conservation Plans

    No conservation plans have been created for Spectacled eider

    » Petitions

    Most Recent Petition Findings (Showing 2 of 2 )
    Date Citation Page Title Finding
    05/08/1992 57 FR 19852 19856 ETWP; Proposed Rule to list Spectacled Eider as Threatened and Notice of 12-month Finding for a Petition to List Two Alaskan Eiders as Endangered; 57 FR 19852 19856
  • Notice 12 month petition finding, Warranted
  • Proposed Listing, Threatened
    • 04/25/1991 56 FR 19073 19074 ETWP; 90-Findings and Commencement of Status Reviews for a Petition to List the Steller's and Spectacled Eiders as Endangered; 56 FR 19073 19074
  • Notice 90-day Petition Finding, Substantial

    • » Life History

    No Life History information has been entered into this system for this species.

    » Other Resources

    NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and Canada. NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.

    ITIS Reports -- ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of North America and the world.

    Last updated: November 22, 2009