137: A Rare Arctic Duck Appeared in Europe?! Spectacled Eider Explained

A rare Spectacled Eider showed up far outside its Arctic range—and birders took notice. Learn about eiders, migration patterns, and rare bird sightings in this birding podcast episode. A rare Spectacled Eider sighting in the Netherlands—far outside its normal Arctic range—sparked this week’s episode of Birds of a Feather Talk Together.In this episode, we explore all four living species of eiders—from the iconic Common Eider to the stunning King and Spectacled Eiders. Along the way, we break down what makes these Arctic ducks so unique, from their extreme cold-weather adaptations to their fascinating breeding behavior.We’re also kicking off our March Madness-style bird bracket tournament, and we have a special surprise in our bracket challenge!If you love birding, rare bird sightings, ornithology, and fun, science-driven conversations, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.As always it's married couple and ornithologists John Bates and Shannon Hackett and new-ish birders RJ and Amanda Pole. Here are links to our social and YouTube pages, give us a follow:YouTube InstagramTikTokBlueSky