Steller's Eider is a small sea duck. Most breed in Arctic Russia, and populations molt or winter in shallow coastal waters of Alaska.
It has a small head with a flat crown, a short body, relatively narrow wings, and an elongated pointed tail.
Researchers estimated Steller’s Eider numbers and distribution on Alaska’s Arctic Coastal Plain using aerial surveys from 2007 to 2024 and a nearby triangle survey. Counts were low and varied greatly among years, so the analysis considered both location and year. Model-based estimates were more precise and less variable from year to year than traditional counts.
The two data sets showed an approximate 6.5-year population cycle. Maps showed higher density in the north and lower density farther south. The estimated 25-year mean growth rate was slightly negative, but its uncertainty interval included positive growth. Model-based estimates were more precise and less variable among years than conventional estimates.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.
Long-term assessments should compare survey estimates from similar points in the population cycle.