Spectacled Eider Identification, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Congress of the Birds on Instagram: "Like water off a duck’s back—literally. Our Common Eider has been with us for two weeks now, gaining weight after surviving a gunshot wound. He was found grounded beside his dead mate, and based on his level of emaciation, had likely been down for many days. For oceanic birds like eiders, waterproofing is essential. Their feathers trap air and create a barrier between their bodies and cold seawater. When a bird is injured or too weak to preen, those feathers