Results: Mandarin duck

(Source: worldatlas.com) Mandarin ducks (Aix galericulata) are famous for the gorgeous, colourful appearance of their males. The male duck adorns a dramatic display of colors, including that of its iconic red beak, its multihued crest with overlapping shades of black, green, blue and copper colors, and an overall golden appearance, with bright, golden-orange feathers hanging down the neck like a mane. A crescent-shaped white lining surrounds the eyes and extends to the sides of the neck. The feathers in the lower breast and belly region are whitish, while the feathers on the dorsal side are olive-brown in color. A pair of golden-orange wings extend out from the back of the duck while sitting. These act like sails when the bird floats or swims in the water. Can you mention any duck that looks more beautiful than this one?

The female Mandarin ducks are, in contrast to the males, comparatively simple, and much less dramatic in appearance. Their body is largely covered by buff- and grey-colored feathers. The head is also grey, with a grey beak and crest, and a narrow white eye-ring extending from around the eyes to the back of the neck. The size of Mandarin ducks ranges between 8.3 and 9.7 inches (21.0-24.5 centimeters). The average weight of males is around 1.4 pounds (0.63 kilograms) and that of females is around 2.4 pounds (1.08 kilograms). There are many creatures where the make and the female looks quite different. Can you tell us which ones you remember, please? Thanks.

The Mandarin ducks were native to China, south-east Russia, Korea and Japan. On popular demand for their beauty, they were exported to many countries worldwide. Currently, their largest populations occur in Japan and Britain. Escape from captivity led to the growth of feral populations of Mandarin ducks as introduced species in many regions, including Britain, Ireland, Germany, and northern California in the US. The Mandarin ducks prefer to inhabit water bodies lining dense, shrubby, forested lands. They are thus found in ponds, lakes, rivers, marshes and swamps with plenty of emergent vegetation. Although these ducks are primarily found in freshwater, they can also be spotted in coastal lagoons and estuaries, especially during the winter season. Large scale exports, hunting, and degradation of habitat of the Mandarin ducks have led to a significant decline in the numbers of this species within their native habitats. Only about 1,000 pairs of these beautiful creatures survive in their Russian and Chinese homelands today. The most important natural predators of these ducks include feral dogs, minks, and Eurasian eagle-owls. As I live in a city, the ducks worse predators are men. Are there any ducks in your area? If there are, please let us know which predators they have to mainly deal with. Thanks.

Mandarin ducks usually feed during dawn and at dusk. They spend most of the rest of the day perching atop trees near the water bodies. Their wings are large compared to their body sizes, and hence they are able to swiftly take off from the water during times of danger. The males make whistling sounds or grunts, while females producer softer vocal tones. The males raise their crest as a courtship display, or during times of disturbance, but this behavior is not exhibited by females. Did you ever have a duck as a pet?