The Mandarin Duck is a tree-nesting duck native to eastern Asia, found on wooded ponds and slow rivers. Males have upright orange feathers on their backs, while females are gray-brown with a thin white eye ring and a narrow white line behind the eye. Small introduced populations in the United States began with captive or released birds.
Appearance
- Appearance
- The male has a red-orange bill, orange cheek feathers, a colorful crest, and upright orange ‘sails’ on the back. The female is gray-brown with a thin white eye ring and a narrow white line behind the eye.
Look-alikes
Male Mandarins have upright orange back sails, while male Wood Ducks (Aix sponsa) have a dark iridescent crest with bold white face stripes. Female Mandarins show a thinner white eye ring and a narrow line behind the eye; female Wood Ducks have a broader, teardrop-shaped eye patch.
Why they get mixed upThese two closely related tree-nesting ducks have similar size, shape, and female plumage.
Where it lives
- Typical habitats
- wooded ponds
- freshwater lakes
- slow rivers and marshes
- Range
- The species is native to eastern Asia. Established populations in northern California and western North Carolina began with birds from collections or deliberate releases.
- Seasonal presence
- U.S. birds belong to introduced or are escapees, not a native migratory population.
- Preferred conditions
- It favors fresh water edged with dense shrubs or deciduous woods. Old trees with cavities provide nest sites.
- When it’s recorded
Recorded year-round, every year
702 observations in the US · 10 years · for reference
Behavior
- Diet
- This eats aquatic plants and tree seeds such as acorns, along with some animal food.
- Activity
- It feeds by day and night and readily perches in trees near water.
- Social life
- Pairs form in winter, and birds may gather in larger groups outside the breeding season.
Life cycle
- Nest
- The female nests in a tree cavity near fresh water.
- Fledging
- Ducklings jump from the tree cavity soon after hatching and follow the female to water.
Conservation
- IUCN Red List
- LCLeast ConcernLow risk of extinction
Culture and stories
- Culture and stories
- Its striking plumage has made it a popular ornamental duck in parks and private waterfowl collections.