Mandarin Duck PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:

The average length for the Mandarin Duck is between 43-51cm, wings folded 22.1-22.6cm. They have a tail length of 10.2-10.4cm and an average bill length of 27.9mm. In full plumage, the male Mandarin is the most beautiful of all ducks. The males have an iridescent crown extending to a long crest and chestnut cheeks. The breast is maroon with black and white vertical stripes; the abdomen and underside are white with gold and black flanks. The back and tail are olive brown, the upper tail coverts are blue/green, and the scapulars are iridescent blue. The outer tertials are orange and gold on the inner web and form a sail shape and the upper wing surface is mostly olive brown. This sail shape feature along with the white-eye stripe that extends from the bill and tapers toward the back of the head distinguishes the male from all others. Their bill is red and they have whitish legs with yellow feet.

The females, however, are less colorful. Their color vary from gray and white, to brown and greenish brown. The crown and sides of the head and neck are gray with a white-eye ring and streak that tapers off towards the neck. The throat and fore neck are white and the breast and sides of body are buff and gray. The back is gray brown and there are a series of white spots on the under parts. The wings are similar to the males but without the sail feathers. The bill is grayish black and the legs and feet are reddish yellow. The female bears a strong resemblance to the female Wood Duck but can be distinguished by the narrow eye stripe; the Wood Duck’s is shorter and more blunt. Differences between the sexes are obvious, the males have a crested head and chestnut/orange wing and sail feathers that are raised vertically above their back. The females are duller in color and lack the crested head. The juveniles resemble the females but the males have a pinkish bill. During molting periods when the Mandarin sheds its feathers, the males resemble females but can be distinguished by the red bill.

Mandarin Duck DISTRIBUTION and HABITAT:

The Mandarin Duck originated in China but can be found almost anywhere there is a suitable habitat. They are believed to be semi-migratory and semi-colonial. They are scattered throughout Southeast Russia, Northeast China, Japan, Southern England and Siberia. Mandarins were introduced to the west for breeding purposes by aviculturalists and can be found in zoos around the world. The fall migration ranges from China, Japan, Manchuria, North Korea, to the central and southern islands east of the Sea of Japan. Mandarins prefer to live in woodlands next to water that has many trees with holes for nesting. They favor mountain areas with streams, marshland and forests.

Mandarin Duck Diet:

In the wild, they eat seeds and other vegetable matter, insects, worms, and small aquatic animals. They are especially fond of acorns. In the zoo, they eat waterfowl maintenance and fresh greens.

Mandarin Duck Life Cycle:

Mandarin Ducks form life-long pair bonds. Breeding begins in April, with males performing spectacular courtship displays with their brightly-colored plumage. They nest in empty woodpecker holes or other tree cavities. They lay 8-12 pale buff eggs per clutch, and incubation takes 28-30 days. The chicks have olive-brown down with yellow underparts. They leave the nest the same day as hatching, tumbling down to the ground or water to follow their mothers. They are expert climbers, and can use their bills and claws to climb back up to the entrance of the nest cavity. They can fly after 40-45 days. Once they learn to fly, they leave to join a new flock. They are mature at one year, and can live up to 12 years in captivity.

Keywords: mandarin duck, mandarin duck for sale, mandarin northern wood, the tale of the mandarin duck, mandarin duck pair, mandarin duck picture, mandarin wood duck, mandarin duck photo, egg, habitat, information, nest box, picture, nesting, hunting, pic, photo, tattoo, birds of china