Wildlife
Mandarin ducks in Britain are the descendants of captive-bred ducks which escaped or were deliberately released. Mandarins are one of the few duck species which are not hunted for food - apparently they taste really bad!
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Hollow reminders
Mink have brought a reign of terror to the Thames riverbanks.
Mink have brought a reign of terror to the Thames riverbanks.
Mandarin duck dive
First footage of mandarin duck chicks leaving their perilous treetop nests.
Other species of duck have been filmed fledging from nests set high above the ground, but to record the amazing dive of the young mandarin was a first. The crew remained in hides throughout the shoot in Siberia, as the birds were extremely nervous.
The following habitats are found across the Mandarin duck distribution range. Find out more about these environments, what it takes to live there and what else inhabits them.
Discover what these behaviours are and how different plants and animals use them.
Additional data source: Animal Diversity Web
Least Concern
Year assessed: 2009
Classified by: IUCN 3.1
The Mandarin Duck (Aix galericulata), or just Mandarin, is a medium-sized, East Asian perching duck, closely related to the North American Wood Duck. It is 41–49 cm long with a 65–75 cm wingspan.
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Lakes and ponds
Rivers and streams
Broadleaf forest
Coniferous forest
Urban
Shedding body parts
Migration
Courtship display
Adapted to flying
Acoustic communication
Herbivorous
Moulting
Egg layer
Social
Sexual dimorphism
Visual communication