[Duck Collector]

Common Eider. This will be my 3rd bird I've done. This one gave me a hard time, but I'm chalking it up to the fact that I'm not familiar with the anatomy of a sea duck at all...it turned out decent I guess, but definitely see areas where I need to improve. (I know the bill color is off, still trying to figure out exactly what it needs to be as I'm extremely color blind..)

On this bird the only neck material I had left was to small so I had to improvise and use cotton...it's okay I guess but definitely see where the neck area needs improving.

Im haveing a hard time getting the pin feathers on the belly to hide under the good ones on the surface? Any pointers on that?

The corners of the mouth also need improvement I think.

I think it's just the pic that looks funny, but everything is grease free except the spot between the scaps, it looks greasy alittle bit still..I guess I just missed that spot in the washing process.

Overall I'm satisfied with it, and honestly imo it looks better in person then in the pictures...

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[duxrus]

Eiders are a pain the first time mounting one or the hundredth. Their skin stretches horrible after skinning.

On sea ducks I normally go up in diameter in the necking material for a thicker looking neck. On yours a simple pulling of the chest skin forward would have thickened it up somewhat. As far as the belly you just needed to back brush it more until you got a smooth appearance. Solid black areas are the worst for making them look nice and smooth. Being your eider is an Atlantic the bill should be an olive green and not orange. Pacific eiders have the orange coloration. All in all you did a good job on your first nightmare eider

 

[Duck Collector]

Thank ya sir, I was starting to wonder if anyone uses this site still lol. Yeah the neck was tough, it didn't help any that I had to improvise with cotton either...

I finished a teal yesterday for my 4th bird, it was difficult as well...the left wing bone was virtually disintegrated...

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