Mandarin duck

Mandarin duck

Description

The mandarin duck is a small, dazzlingly coloured perching duck from East Asia, 41–49 cm long. In breeding plumage the drake is among the most ornate of all waterfowl, with orange sail-like feathers rising from the wings, chestnut cheek 'whiskers' and a purple breast. The mottled grey-brown female, marked by a white eye-ring and stripe, is by contrast beautifully camouflaged. Outside the breeding season the male moults into a plain, female-like eclipse plumage.

Habitat

It favours wooded lakes, slow rivers and ponds fringed with dense vegetation, always near mature trees offering nesting holes. Quiet, shaded water beneath broadleaf forest is its preferred haunt.

Diet

An omnivore. In the warmer months it takes insects, snails, small fish and frogs, switching in autumn and winter mainly to seeds, acorns, beech mast and aquatic plants.

Reproduction

It nests in tree cavities, often high up and some distance from water. The female lays 9–12 eggs and incubates them alone for 28–30 days. A day after hatching, the tiny ducklings boldly leap from the hole to the ground and follow their mother to water. Pairs bond for a single season only.

Lifespan

Around 6–7 years in the wild, and over 10 years under human care.

Did you know?

In China and Korea the mandarin duck has long symbolised faithful love and marital happiness – a pair is traditionally given to newlyweds.