Although there are four races of common eiders in North America, the Pacific race is the one found in Alaska. The chin, throat, neck, and cheek extending along the bill are white. The Pacific race has a sharp black line along the jaw forming a V pointing toward the yellow-orange bill. A close look reveals a pastel sea-green shading from the upper cheek to the back of the neck. The chest and back are white, and the belly, sides, and rump are black.
White patches flank the rump.
The wings are also black with white triangles. Because the common eider holds its head below its body when in flight, it appears to be ungainly in the air. The common eider is the southernmost breeding eider, with a nesting range extending from Sitka in Southeast Alaska along the entire coast into arctic Canada. Small colonies are found in the Kodiak harbor and along Homer Spit. Common eiders nest near driftwood or clumps of grass on barrier islands, sandy beaches, and on islands in tundra ponds, often in association with gull colonies.