Geographic Range
Palearctic, Oriental: The Mandarin duck breeds in eastern Siberia,
China, and Japan and winters in southern China and Japan. There is a small
free-flying population in Britain stemming from the release captive bred ducks.
Physical 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. image
Food Habits
The Mandarin Duck's basic diet consists of water plants, rice and other
grains.
Reproduction
Mandarin courtship display is very impressive and includes mock-drinking
and shaking. Pairs are formed at the beginning of the winter and may continue
for many seasons. Although the female chooses the exact nesting site, the male
accompanies the female on nest searches. Nest are alway in a hole in a tree
and can be up to thirty feet from the ground. In preparation for egg laying,
the female lines the nest is with down. Clutch sizes range from nine to twelve
white oval eggs that are laid at daily intervals. Incubation is solely
performed by the female and last between 28 and 30 days. When all the eggs are
hatched (they hatch within a few hours of each other), the mother calls to the
chicks from the ground. Each chick then crawls out of the hole and launches
itself into a free fall. Amazingly, all the chicks land unhurt and are en
route to the nearest feeding ground. Once the chicks are able to fly (after
40-45 days), they leave to join a new flock.
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