Mandarin Duck
I.U.C.N status
International Union for Conservation of Nature
LC
Least concern
NT
Near threatened
VU
Vulnerable
EN
Endangered
CR
Critically endangered
EW
Extinct in the wild
EX
Extinct
Identity card
Class :
Birds
Order :
Anseriformes
Family :
Anatidae
Genus :
Aix
Species :
galericulata
Average size
51 cm / 68 to 74 cm (wingspan)
Weight
450 to 700 g
Longevity
10 to 15 years
Sexual maturity
1 year
Incubation
28 to 30 days
Clutch
9 to 12 eggs
Diet
Omnivore
Aquatic insects, small fish, seeds, fruits...
Did you know?
Like most ducks, the mandarin duck displays strong sexual dimorphism: males are distinguished by their bright colors while, conversely, females sport a more discreet brown plumage. After the breeding season, males undergo a molt during which they lose their beautiful colors, then resembling females more closely.
Threats and conservation
In Asia, the decline of this species is due to the destruction of its habitat. In 1980, the Japanese government even ordered three thousand pairs from Dutch breeders in order to reintroduce these ducks and repopulate the lakes of their country.
