Mandarin duck

Short Description

The Manadarin Duck is a medium-sized duck species. It has a prominent crest of feathers on its head, which makes it appear particularly large.

Males are light brown, reddish brown and orange with a broad white stripe over the eyes. They have prominent orange, wing feathers that are sail-like on the back and a metallic green-blue stripe on the head. The bill is red. After the breeding season, the males change their plumage and then look similar to the females.

Females have a gray-brown color. They have a white ring around their eyes. The breast is dotted with white. The beak is brown.

The young have a dark brown back, a yellow head and a light brown chest. A dark line runs from the eye towards the neck.

In the city

Due to individual escapes from former ornamental bird keeping, small populations have developed in Germany, especially in old parks and ornamental gardens. The Mandarin duck prefers small, quiet bodies of water surrounded by deciduous trees.