male and female mandarin ducks

Mandarin Duck

Aix galericulata

CLASS Aves | ORDER Anseriformes | FAMILY Anatidae

RANGE China, Japan, and eastern Russia

HABITAT Forests near water

DIET Seeds, grains, wetland plants, insects, snails, and small fish

Weight
15 - 18 oz

Size
16 - 20 in

Clutch
9 - 12 eggs

IUCN Status
Least Concern
male mandarin duck

The mandarin duck is a sexually dimorphic species, meaning males and females differ in appearance. In Chinese and Japanese cultures, mandarin ducks are regarded as symbols of love, happiness, and marital fidelity because they are believed to be monogamous.

They occasionally dive as well as swim. They are considered "perching" ducks because their legs are set farther forward on their bodies than most other ducks.

Formerly abundant, numbers of mandarin ducks in their native Far East have declined due to habitat destruction and over-hunting. The majority of the Asian population now resides in Japan.