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ZooNooz Article - MARCH 2005
Focus on: Mandarin Duck
Story by ANDREW PARNELL
Photograph Taronga Zoo
Illustration Ngaire Sales
Show-offs
In full plumage, male Mandarin Ducks are one of the most colourful waterbirds. The most spectacular feathers are on the head and wings: a long chestnut and iridescent green crest tops the head, while a wide white stripe, above chestnut-coloured cheeks, highlights the eyes and tapers off down the back of the head. Distinctive bright orange and gold wing feathers sit on the back like curved sails.
These ducks are swift and nimble fliers, and when migrating they can fly as far as 800km in 24 hours.
This plumage starts growing in autumn for the breeding season and is lost during the summer moult. After moulting, males resemble females, whose grey appearance is broken only by white feathers on the throat, the front of the neck, around the eyes and under their bodies. Males have red bills, white legs and yellow feet, while females have grey/black bills, with red/yellow legs and feet. The young have similar plumage to females, while young males have pink bills.
Both males and females are about 400mm to 500mm long. At 600g, males are heavier than females, which weigh around 450g, and have longer wings. These ducks are swift and nimble fliers, and when migrating they can fly as far as 800km in 24 hours.
The ducks are brilliantly colored (TZ) |
The China connection
Mandarin Ducks originated in China, although their breeding range has since extended to eastern Siberia, southeast Russia and Japan. Flocks living in these areas, with the possible exception of Japan, migrate in winter to southern China, Japan, Manchuria and North Korea.
Some have also successfully colonised areas in western Europe, where they were first sent in 1745, but while these ducks do sometimes fly long distances, they are not considered migratory. Remarkably, it is thought that the largest population is now in southern England.
Daily life
The preferred environments of Mandarin Ducks are the streams, ponds, marshland and forests of mountain areas. They live in pairs or small flocks that become larger during autumn and winter. Unlike most other ducks, Mandarins spend most of the day resting in trees, preferably overhanging water. Their feet have long, sharp claws adapted for roosting.
When moulting they are especially vulnerable to predators (grass snakes, minks, polecats, raccoon dogs, eagle owls and otters), and move to areas with thicker vegetation.
They search for food in the early morning, at dusk and during the night. They rarely dive to feed,
preferring to pick from the surface, dunk their head into shallow water or walk along the banks. They also forage in the forest.
Their diet changes according to the season. During spring they prefer small fish and other aquatic animals, plant matter, insects and land snails. In summer they favour frogs, dew worms, grasshoppers, small fish, molluscs and small snakes. In autumn they seek acorns, as well as rice and other grains.
Ducklings emerge within a few hours of each other and mum then flies down to the ground and calls them. Using their bills and claws to climb out of the nest, they tumble out and crash onto the ground!
Family matters
Courtship starts in autumn with aggressive flying and spectacular plumage displays by the males. Both sexes engage in elaborate courtship rituals including body shaking, whistling, mock-drinking, head-bobbing, and preening.
Females choose their mates at the beginning of winter and they usually stay together for many breeding seasons. For this reason they are highly regarded in China and Japan as symbols of love, happiness and fidelity. Chinese newlyweds used to be given pairs as wedding presents and they have been popular subjects for Japanese art.
The Mandarin Duck is a popular subject for Japanese art (NS) |
In spring, pairs search for a nesting site together, with the female making the final decision. She generally chooses a tree hole, up to nine metres from the ground, preferably over water, where she incubates eight to 12 eggs for 28-30 days.
Ducklings emerge within a few hours of each other and mum then flies down to the ground and calls them. Using their bills and claws to climb out of the nest, they tumble out and crash onto the ground! Remarkably they are not injured and immediately set off after mum in search of food.
Mandarin Ducks are very protective parents. The mother will use herself as a decoy to lead potential predators away from the eggs and ducklings and, unlike most other ducks, the male rejoins his family after the eggs have hatched and guards them. Yet even with this protection, half or more of the ducklings do not survive the first two weeks.
When the ducklings are able to fly, about 40-45 days after hatching, they leave to join another flock. They reach maturity after one year and live for 10 to 15 years.
While Mandarin Ducks are not considered endangered, habitat destruction, especially since 1911, and their popularity as ornamental birds, have led to a severely depleted wild population in their native Asia. To a certain extent they have been saved by the poor taste of their flesh, which means they are not hunted for food.
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