The Mandarin Duck (Aix galericulata), or just Mandarin.
The Mandarin Duck (Aix galericulata), or just Mandarin, is a medium-sized perching duck, closely related to the North American Wood Duck. It is 41–49 cm long with a 65–75 cm wingspan. The adult male is a striking and unmistakable bird. It has a red bill, large white crescent above the eye and reddish face and "whiskers". The breast is purple with two vertical white bars, and the flanks ruddy, with two orange "sails" at the back. The female is similar to female Wood Duck, with a white eye-ring and stripe running back from the eye, but is paler below, has a small white flank stripe, and a pale tip to its bill. [2] Unlike other species of ducks, most Mandarin drakes reunite with the hens they mated with along with their offsprings after the eggs have hatched and even share scout duties in watching the ducklings closely. [3] However, even with both parents securing the ducklings, most of them do not survive to adulthood. The species was once widespread in eastern Asia, but large-scale exports and the destruction of its forest habitat have reduced populations in eastern Russia and in China to below 1, 000 pairs in each country; Japan, however, is thought to still hold some 5, 000 pairs. [4] Specimens frequently escape from collections, and in the 20th century a feral population numbering about 1, 000 pairs was established in Great Britain. ; more recently small numbers have bred in Ireland. Although this is of great conservational significance, the birds are not protected in the UK since the species is not native there. There is also a free-flying feral population of several hundred mandarins in Sonoma County, California. This population is the result of several mandarin ducks escaping from captivity, then going on to reproduce in the wild wikipedia read more. ..
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Photo credit: © lugris / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
Keywords: aix, anatidae, anzel, bird, birdwatching, duck, galericulata, lugris2, mandarin
