Eider << EYE duhr >> duck is any of a group of ducks known for their soft, warm down feathers. Eider down is a light, highly efficient insulating material and is used to make pillows, bedding, and coats. It grows under the duck’s outer feathers and is collected from nests in the early summer. Eider ducks live in northern coastal areas of North America, Europe, and Asia. Adult males have spectacular colors and patterns on the head. Females are dark brown with brown and black streaks.
The common eider is the most abundant eider duck. In North America, it is found on coasts from New England north and across the Arctic to Alaska. It can weigh up to 5 1/2 pounds (2.5 kilograms). The female typically lays three or four greenish eggs.
