Autumn Arrival and Moult in King Eiders (<i>Somateria Spectabilis</i>) at Disko, West Greenland

Abstract

Observations of King Eiders and their moult carried out at western Disko Island, West Greenland, July-October 1991 and 1992 showed two waves of immigration. The post-breeding males arrived mainly in early August in advanced body moult and undertook wing moult between mid-August and late September. Females arrived from mid-August and peaked in the second half of August. Females undertook body and wing moult from late August into October. A significant part of the females as well as males from the eastern Canadian Arctic appear to perform a moult migration to central West Greenland.

Key words: King Eider, Somateria spectabilis, moult migration, sex ratio, moult, West Greenland, Disko Island