The mandarin duck (Aix galericulata)

The mandarin duck

The beautiful mandarin duck, native to East Asia, was introduced to Europe around the end of the 18th century and was an addition to London Zoo in 1830; they are a true eye-catcher and named one of the most beautiful birds in the world. 

Mr mandarin showing off his beautiful plumage.

The mandarin duck is a medium-sized, dimorphic bird; meaning the males and females look very different (Shown in the image below). It is usual for male species to be magnificently bold and beautiful, for the aid in attracting a mate, and this is what we see here. This is due to the female being able to produce the young, so the males almost have to make the extra effort in their attire! Another reason for the females' lack of colour is that the brown aids in camouflage when incubating her eggs. The males show feathers of purple, blue, orange, green, white, and black; with a distinct red bill. After mating season, the males will moult their technicolour dreamcoat feathers and almost resemble the female for a short while, the moulting phase is known as their 'eclipse plumage'.  Although their lack in colour, the females are just as beautiful, they have a very sweet appearance; greige in colour with white pattern detail, and a peek-a-boo effect of teal feathers at their rear.

Mr and Mrs mandarin giving a preview of their differences in appearance.

Mandarin ducks breed between April-May in wooded areas near water. Females lay around 9-12 eggs and incubate them for approximately 30 days. These ducks were originally believed to be totally monogamous, which isn't entirely true. It has been found that it is common for this species to move on to a new mate in and around Autumn time, but still they remain a huge symbol of love, fidelity and fertility in Asian culture. Mandarin ducks have a recorded longevity of 10.4 years, but some argue the possibility of them living twice as long.

This species feeds on a lot of aquatic vegetation, but they are not vegetarians. They eat many other things such as snails, insects, small fish, and even some small snakes where available. My favourite thing to bring with me when feeding the ducks is the 'Wild Things' duck food. You can find it online or in some popular pet stores. Bread is not a very safe option to feed any water birds, as it fills their stomachs with very little nutrition and stops them from foraging for much-needed nutritional foods. So duck foods such as the one mentioned are a much more sustainable snack to bring with you.

Highly recommend this duck food!