Like other birds, the spectacled eider swallows pebbles to help it crush and digest food. Unfortunately, lead shotgun pellets also can be swallowed, and lead poisoning is a major reason this large diving duck is threatened. The ban on lead shot is one step towards saving the spectacled eider.
Spectacled Eider
Somateria fischeri
Fact File
Where to see them: Wings of the World
Length: 20 to 22 in
Weight: Up to 3.6 lbs
Habitat: Ocean and coastal tundra
Diet: Clams, mollusks, aquatic insects, some plants
Risk Status: Species at Risk (U.S. Endangered Species List—Threatened)Video
90-Second Naturalist 
