A Spectacled Eider, Found in Latvia, is Native to Alaska and Chukotka 0 18

A fifth, the brightest species has been added to the four species of eiders previously recorded in Latvia — the spectacled eider. All species of eiders or sea ducks are marine birds that nest in the north, and they reach the coasts of Latvia during the coldest months of the year.

In 2020, the Stejneger's eider (Melanitta stejnegeri) was recorded in Latvia for the first time — a visitor from Siberia, with 12 observations of this species documented along the coast so far.

In 2022, an even more distant visitor from America — the American black eider (Melanitta americana) — was noted for the first time, with three observations recorded.

The current vagrant guest, the spectacled eider, is a species of sea duck belonging to the family Anatidae and the order Anseriformes. It nests in the northern part of North America and winters along its coasts, but there are also known vagrancies to Russia's Chukotka, the Commander Islands, and the White Sea.

The spectacled eider is usually a very quiet bird. Nesting males produce a soft whistle, as well as sharp calls of "puk-puk." The female during the courtship period cries out "guttural-kraak-kraak." Young birds are warned of danger by a sharp cry of "kraa."