Waterfowl
Mandarin duck
aix galericulata
IUCN Red ListLeast Concern
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Mandarin duck
- Description
- The mandarin duck is a small, dazzlingly coloured perching duck from East Asia, 41–49 cm long. In breeding plumage the drake is among the most ornate of all waterfowl, with orange sail-like feathers rising from the wings, chestnut cheek 'whiskers' and a purple breast. The mottled grey-brown female, marked by a white eye-ring and stripe, is by contrast beautifully camouflaged. Outside the breeding season the male moults into a plain, female-like eclipse plumage.
- Habitat
- It favours wooded lakes, slow rivers and ponds fringed with dense vegetation, always near mature trees offering nesting holes. Quiet, shaded water beneath broadleaf forest is its preferred haunt.
- Diet
- An omnivore. In the warmer months it takes insects, snails, small fish and frogs, switching in autumn and winter mainly to seeds, acorns, beech mast and aquatic plants.
- Reproduction
- It nests in tree cavities, often high up and some distance from water. The female lays 9–12 eggs and incubates them alone for 28–30 days. A day after hatching, the tiny ducklings boldly leap from the hole to the ground and follow their mother to water. Pairs bond for a single season only.
- Lifespan
- Around 6–7 years in the wild, and over 10 years under human care.
- Did you know?
- In China and Korea the mandarin duck has long symbolised faithful love and marital happiness – a pair is traditionally given to newlyweds.
Homeland & habitat
Where the mandarin duck lives
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East AsiaThe mandarin duck comes from the wooded waters of East Asia – China, Korea, Japan and the Russian Far East.
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Native rangeIntroduced / also today
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10 facts about the mandarin duck
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- GroupWaterfowlvrubozobí (Anseriformes) · kachnovití (Anatidae)
- Scientific nameaix galericulataLatin name of the species
- Homeland & habitatObývá zalesněná jezera, pomalé řeky a rybníky lemované hustou vegetací, vždy poblíž starých stromů s dutinami. Vyhledává klidné, zastíněné vodní plochy pod korunami listnatých lesů.
- DietVšežravec. V teplé části roku sbírá hmyz, měkkýše, drobné ryby a žáby; na podzim a v zimě přechází hlavně na semena, žaludy, bukvice a vodní rostliny.
- ReproductionHnízdí ve stromových dutinách, často vysoko nad zemí a i dost daleko od vody. Samice klade 9–12 vajec a sama je zahřívá 28–30 dní. Den po vylíhnutí čerstvá káčata odvážně vyskočí z dutiny na zem a následují matku k vodě. Páry se tvoří vždy jen na jednu sezónu.
- LifespanVe volné přírodě se dožívá zhruba 6–7 let, v lidské péči i přes 10 let.
- Conservation statusLeast ConcernAccording to the IUCN Red List
- Did you know…?V Číně a Koreji je kachna mandarinská odedávna symbolem věrné lásky a manželského štěstí – párek se tradičně daruje novomanželům.
- Where in the zooArea A — the water-lily pond
- How many we keep♂ 4 · ♀ 5total: 9
Conservation status
Species vulnerability index
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Vulnerable
Endangered
Critically Endangered
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