Mandarin Duck Aix galericulata

Class: Aves Order: Anseriformes Family: Anatidae

Characteristics: In full plumage, the male has a pair of "sail" feathers that are raised vertically above the back, a crest of orange and cream feathers, and a broad white eye-stripe that is bounded above and below by darker feathers. The female is duller in color and has an overall grey appearance marked by a curving white stripe behind the eye and a series of white blotches on the underparts. In flight, both sexes display a bluish-green iridescent speculum (Animal Diversity).

Behavior: Range & Habitat: A perching duck that feeds on the water surface, they are close relatives of Wooded ponds and fast-flowing the North American wood duck and share common nesting and pairing streams in Russia, China and behaviors. They seldom stray far from the water near which they live. Japan. There is a population of released captive-bred birds in Reproduction: Europe. The ducks perform an impressive courtship display which includes bobbing, shaking and mock-drinking. After pairing, they may stay together for several breeding seasons. They nest in tree holes and lay 9-12 eggs which hatch after approximately a 30-day incubation period. Mandarins also exhibit nest parasitism where females will lay eggs in other females’ nests. It is believed they do this to avoid constructing their own nests or incubating eggs.

Diet: Wild: Seeds, grains, and wetland plants Lifespan: up to 10 years in Zoo: Scratch grains, flock raiser pellets, greens, oyster shell captivity, 6 years in the wild.

Conservation: Special Adaptations: Like all Has an extremely large home range and therefore does not appear to ducks, mandarins have thin, flat declining rapidly enough to be of concern. feet that make it easier to paddle through water. FYI: Soon after hatching, the young make a “brood leap” out of the tree which IUCN Conservation Status: can be as high as 30 feet. The chicks land unhurt and head to water to feed Least Concern (Lincoln Park Zoo).