POLYSTICTA.
Bill longer than tarsus; tail 14 feathers; plumage like Eider Ducks. Sexes different.
Polysticta stelleri (Pallas). STELLER'S EIDER.
Head and wing coverts white ; throat, collar, back, rump, and upper tail coverts blue black ; forehead and occipital tuft sea green ; beneath, reddish buff, shading to dark brown on abdomen ; (inner curved) and narrow pointed scapulars blue with inner webs white. Bill bluish, tip white. Legs and feet blue grey, webs dark grey. ? Dark brown with rufous margins, more chestnut on breast, abdomen dusky, tips of greater wing coverts white, speculum blue, Bill dusky blue. Legs and feet
dusky olive. Wing ? 209-217. Tarsus 34-37. Bill 36-40(W.).
Siberia east of Taimyr Peninsula, Alaska, and Arctic America, doubtful in Europe (Varanger Fiord, Ribachi Peninsula, and Murman Coast). Occurs in winter in small numbers Norway, Sweden, Finland, N. Russia ; occasional Denmark, Prussian Coast ; rare Britain, France, Italy.