# Mandarin Duck (*Aix galericulata*) Mandarin Ducks are colorful birds that look like they are wearing fancy clothes! They love to swim and can be found near ponds and lakes, where they play and splash around. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![Mandarin Duck](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Mandarin_ducks_by_the_Weiming_Lake_of_Peking_University_16.jpg&width=800) Photo: 星外之神, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mandarin_ducks_by_the_Weiming_Lake_of_Peking_University_16.jpg) ## Appearance The Mandarin Duck is renowned for the male's spectacular plumage, featuring a metallic green and purple crest, broad orange 'sails' on its back, and a vibrant rufous collar. Its face has a striking white crescent above the eye. Females are more subdued, with grey heads and white eye-rings. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Anseriformes - **Family:** Anatidae - **Genus:** Aix ## Interesting facts - Baby Mandarin ducks bravely jump from high tree holes just one day after hatching! - In Asia, Mandarin Ducks symbolize lasting love and fidelity, often seen in beautiful art! - Mandarin Ducks are super close relatives of the famous North American Wood Duck! - The male's amazing 'sails' on its back are actually special modified flight feathers! ## Special abilities - **Tree Percher:** Mandarin Ducks can perch high in trees because of their strong claws, helping them avoid predators and find safe nesting spots. - **Cavity Nester:** Mandarin Ducks have special nesting habits, laying eggs deep inside tree cavities that protect their eggs and ducklings. - **Diving Dynamo:** Mandarin Ducks can dive underwater using their webbed feet, helping them snatch up tasty submerged plants and insects. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 41-49 cm - **Wingspan:** 65-75 cm - **Weight:** 0.44-0.69 kg - **Lifespan:** 6-10 years - **Speed:** 65 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 9-12 - **Incubation:** 28-30 days ## Diet & Feeding Mandarin Ducks enjoy a mix of seeds, plants, and small critters found in and around water. - **Age differences:** Ducklings eat more insects for protein; adults shift to more plant material. - **Primary Foods:** acorns, seeds, aquatic plants, insects, snails, small fish - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Depends on:** Daimyo Oak (*Quercus serrata*) — Eats its acorns, especially important food source in winter. - **Eaten by:** [American Mink](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-mink) (*Neovison vison*) — Predates eggs and ducklings, sometimes even adult birds. - **Eaten by:** [Eurasian Eagle-Owl](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eurasian-eagle-owl) (*Bubo bubo*) — Hunts adult ducks, particularly during the night. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Omnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/omnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet includes both plant and animal matter. - [Arboreal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/arboreal): Arboreal animals live primarily in trees, utilizing them for shelter, food, and protection from predators. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Filter Feeder](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/filter-feeder): Filter feeders obtain nutrients by straining suspended food particles and small organisms from water. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Freshwater](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/freshwater): Freshwater habitats include non-saline aquatic environments such as rivers, lakes, ponds, and wetlands, vital for numerous species. - [Migratory](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/migratory): Migratory animals undertake seasonal movements from one region to another, typically in response to changes in climate or food availability. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always watch ducks from a distance and don't feed them bread. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Mandarin Duck? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Mandarin Duck? 41-49 cm ### What is Mandarin Duck's wingspan? 65-75 cm ### How much does Mandarin Duck weigh? 0.44-0.69 kg ### How long does Mandarin Duck live? 6-10 years ### How fast can Mandarin Duck move? 65 km/h ### What does Mandarin Duck eat? Mandarin Ducks enjoy a mix of seeds, plants, and small critters found in and around water. ### Where is Mandarin Duck usually found? Wetlands ## Where to spot - [Tierpark Röhrensee Bayreuth](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/tierpark-rohrensee-bayreuth) — Bayern, DE · Zoo - [Madison Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/madison-park) — Washington, US · Park - [Tierpark Herzberg](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/tierpark-herzberg) — Brandenburg, DE · Zoo - [Volkspark Friedrichshain](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/volkspark-friedrichshain-berlin) — Berlin, DE · Park - [Großer Garten Dresden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/grosser-garten-dresden) — Sachsen, DE · Park - [Bunter Garten (Mönchengladbach)](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bunter-garten-monchengladbach) — Nordrhein-Westfalen, DE · Park [View all places to see Mandarin Duck](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/mandarin-duck) ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Mandarin Duck: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mandarin-duck)