The male Mandarin is the most beautiful of all ducks. The Mandarin duck breeds in eastern Siberia, China, and Japan and winters in southern China and Japan. There is a small free-flying population in Britain stemming from the release captive bred ducks.
The male’s chestnut and green crest and the bright orange “sails” on his back are distinctive. For most of the summer, however, the male Mandarin duck loses his distinctive plumage and looks almost like a female Mandarin. Following the breeding season, the males molt all of their colorful feathers, which do not re-grow until sometime in the fall.
The female is duller in color and has an overall grey appearance marked by a curving white stripe behind the eye and a series of white blotches on the underparts.
Mandarin ducks are most active foraging around dawn and dusk. You can often see them sleeping in a shaded area during the day.
Although very well represented in captivity, Mandarin duck populations have been declining in recent decades and they are now considered Near Threatened.
OMGoodness i love this kind of duck i wish i had 1…..i hope they all dont die i love Gods creation!!
ReplyThe same with me, these ducks are cute and adorable.
ReplySaw a male today on the canal in Saltaire, W.Yorks. First time experience and first class! what an intruiging bird
ReplyI saw a beautiful male Mandarin duck on Moat Pond, East Grinstead, Sussex, today. I took a photo and made a few short films of him. I had not seen one for some years now, so it was a wonderful surprise. I am glad I read your website because I thought it might have flown all the way from China - it makes more sense that some captive ones escaped and bred in this country. I also noticed its call sound - not a quack, but a rapid staccato high-pitched piping sound. What a beautiful creature, I hope to see it again some time this week.
ReplyThanks dears ))) Love your comments!
ReplyThey are so beautiful… I’m from the Western continent, so I’ve never seen one in person. I wish I could see one sometime! But I can’t believe they’re threatened… what is not threatened in this world besides humans, rats and roaches?
ReplyVery beautiful ))) unfortunately, more and more species either endangered or going to be ((((
Replythese birds are really popular in Asia, esp. in Korea
because they symbolize everlasting love between a married couple
these birds are well-known for staying together all life !
what a lovely couple
p.s. i think mandarin ducks in england do look a bit diffferent from ones in asia, i think those have larger crests!
ReplyI am glad you love these cute birds ))))
ReplyThis bird is gourgeous. I have done the female in colored pencil. This would make a beautiful compliment to the other picture. How do I get permission to use this for reference.
Replyive got a pair of mandarin ducks coming to my garden in molesey in surrey,couldnt believe my eyes the male is stunning,any sugestions what to feed them as i believe bread is not good for them,they have been eating the wild bird mix i give to the other birds in my garden…my kids are loving it and we feel so lucky that they chose our garden…..
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