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Mandarin Duck

Mandarin Duck

Aix galericulata

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The Mandarin Duck is a small, ornate perching duck native to East Asia, renowned for the male's multicoloured plumage and upright orange “sail” feathers. It is closely related to the North American Wood Duck and nests in tree cavities near wooded lakes and rivers. Escaped birds have formed self-sustaining feral populations in parts of western Europe.

Did you know?

  • Mandarin Ducks have 84 chromosomes – unusually many – which may make hybridisation with other ducks difficult.
  • After hatching high in a tree cavity, the ducklings leap to the ground at their mother's call.

About the species

Identification

The male is spectacular: orange-toned plumage with black and white stripes, a broad white stripe above the eye, and two orange “sail” feathers on the back raised during courtship; the bill is red. The female is grey-brown with fine white spots on the flanks and a white eye-ring with a stripe behind it, and resembles a female Wood Duck.

Family

Anatidae

Size

Large (crow)

Colours

orange, brown, white, green, blue

About the habitat

Wooded freshwater habitats such as calm rivers, backwaters and small lakes with overhanging trees; in winter also marshes and flooded fields, and in introduced ranges park ponds.

Diet

Omnivorous: seeds, acorns and nuts, aquatic plants and grasses, together with insects, snails and other small invertebrates.

Behaviour

Generally shy and fond of cover, often resting under overhanging branches and perching in trees. Feeds by dabbling and upending and also forages on land. Pairs form strong bonds with elaborate courtship displays and soft whistles. The female nests in a tree hole and, soon after hatching, calls the ducklings to leap to the ground and follow her to water.

Sources

Photo: Francis C. Franklin, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pair of mandarin ducks.jpg

Text: Wikipedia (English) + FinBIF species descriptions, CC BY-SA 4.0; FinBIF: CC BY 4.0 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandarin_duck

See also