Mandarin Duck - Aix galericulata


The beautiful mandarin duck was introduced from the Far East, where it can still be found in China, Japan, Korea and parts of Russia. It escaped, or was deliberately released, from captivity in the UK. Mandarin ducks are actually quite shy birds, often hiding beneath overhanging willows and usually only forming small flocks.

A beautiful, unmistakable duck: male mandarins have elaborate plumage with orange plumes on their cheeks, orange 'sails' on their back, and pale orange sides; females are dull in comparison, with grey heads, brown backs and white eyestripe.

Introduced from China and now found on park lakes and other wetlands with overhanging trees, mainly in South East England, but also in North England, Wales and Scotland.

The mandarin duck nests in holes in trees, sometimes high up and a long way from the water. Shortly after the ducklings hatch, the female flies down and tries to coax the young to jump from the nest. Once they have left the tree and made their way back to water, the father will return to the family and help to protect the ducklings.

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Mandarin Duck (m) - Aix Gariculata


Margam

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Mandarin Duck (f) - Aix Gariculata

1 of 2 pairs on local Pond

Tags:   Mandarin Ducks Duck Avian Animal Wildlife. Water-Birds Wetlands Wildfowl Waterways Lakes Ponds Countryside Nature Birds. Mandarin Duck Wildbirds River Birds

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Mandarin Duck (m) - Aix Gariculata

1 of 2 pairs on local Pond

Tags:   Mandarin Ducks Wildlife. Water-Birds Wildfowl Avian Animal Lakes Ponds Countryside Nature Birds. Mandarin Duck Wildbirds River Birds

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Mandarin Duck - Aix Gariculata

Tags:   Ducks Avian Wildlife. Waterbirds Wildfowl Norfolk Lakes Nature NGC NPC Birds. Mandarin Duck Wildbirds River Birds

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