black sea red data book - Department of Biology

Synonyms. None.
Somateria mollissima (Linnaeus, 1758)
Common names: Bulg: Obiknoveva gaga; Engl: Eider; Rom: Eider; Russ: Gaga
obyknovennaya; Turk: Pufla; Ukr: Gaga zvychayna.
Order ANSERIFORMES
Family ANATIDAE
Taxonomic description. A common species, with a world-wide breeding range. BS
- in small numbers occur on the Bulgarian and Romanian Black Sea coasts. NB -
there is one isolated population in Ukraine on the islands of the "Chernomorski"
reserve, known since 1975. In 1990, there were 678 pairs in the region.
IUCN Status
World level:
Black Sea Regional level:
Subregion level: VU (Ukraine sector)
Distribution, Habitat type, Critical habitats, Limiting factors. In Ukraine the
habitats are small islets with reed beds, although in its main breeding range, Eider
prefers rocky or stony island coasts, often with arboreal vegetation. In cold winters
such habitats are often destroyed by cracking ice, which may wipe off low parts of
islands and reeds. On the densely populated Kruglyi and Dolgi islands in Yagorlytzki
bay, the area of these habitats is sharply reduced under such conditions. The majority
of the nests is in the shore reeds (in some years up to 63%), less frequently in reed-
beds around inland lakes, or in growths of sagebrush (Artemisia). Some nests may be
located openly on cast-ashore aquatic vegetation. Major limiting factors are nest and
chick predation by Yellow-legged gull (Lams cachinnans), a reduction in mussel bed
area, hunting (these ducks are easy targets), and kills in fish-nets.
Biology. The birds begin to arrive in the first days of March. Egg laying is observed
in April and the first half of May. Second-year females start breeding in early June.
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