Animal Diversity Web

Geographic Range

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.

• Biogeographic Regions
• palearctic
  • native
• oriental
  • native

Habitat

The Mandarin lives in the forests of China and Japan. They prefer wooded ponds and fast flowing rocky streams to swim, wade, and feed in.

• Terrestrial Biomes
• forest

• Aquatic Biomes
• lakes and ponds

Physical Description

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.

• Other Physical Features
• endothermic
• bilateral symmetry

• Range mass

  428 to 693 g

  15.08 to 24.42 oz

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.

• Key Reproductive Features
• iteroparous
• gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate)
• sexual
• oviparous

• Range eggs per season

  9 to 12

Behavior

In the Far East, Mandarins are migratory. Some of the ducks in England also make long-distance flights. Most ducks in the British population, however, are sedentary. These birds have been known to cover 500 miles in 24 hours.

• Key Behaviors
• flies
• motile
• migratory
• social

Communication and Perception

• Perception Channels
• visual
• tactile
• acoustic
• chemical

Food Habits

The Mandarin Duck's basic diet consists of water plants, rice and other grains.

Economic Importance for Humans: Positive

They have been exported to the west, namely Britain, since 1745. They are bred in captivity by European avicultururalists.

Conservation Status

Derstruction of habitat has had a severe impact on the oriental populations of Mandarins. In 1911, the Tung Ling forest, a Mandarin stronghold, was opened up for settlement and thereafter forests were cleared. By 1928 few sufficient breeding areas remained. The current Asian population may be under 20,000 birds. One factor that has helped the Mandarin to survive is their bad taste. These ducks are not hunted for food.

• IUCN Red List

  Least Concern
  More information

Other Comments

The Mandarin is held in high esteem by the Japanese and the Chinese. In these countries, they serve as a symbol of happiness and marital fidelity.

Contributors

Marie S. Harris (author), University of Michigan-Ann Arbor.

References

Gooders, J., and T. Boyer. 1986. Ducks of North America and the Northern Hemisphere. Facts on File Publications.

Johnsgard, Paul, A. 1992. Ducks in the Wild. Prentice Hall General Reference.