mandarin duck

n.
An Asian duck (Aix galericulata) having brightly colored plumage and a crested head.

Aix galericulata

SUBFAMILY

Anatinae

TAXONOMY

Anas galericulata Linnaeus, 1758, China; monotypic.

OTHER COMMON NAMES

French: Canard mandarin; German: Mandarinente; Spanish: Pato Mandarín.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

16.1–20.1 in (41–51 cm); 0.98–1.10 lb (444–500 g). Multicolored upperparts of gray, green, black, and ruddy brown. White underparts.

DISTRIBUTION

Eastern Siberia and eastern Chinasouth to South Korea and Japan; winters in southeastern China below 40° north and Taiwan.

HABITAT

Fast flowing rocky streams and wooded ponds.

BEHAVIOR

Not known if territorial. Migratory.

FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET

Feeds on grains, seeds, and acorns as well as land snails, little fish, and insects. Forages by dabbling, dipping head into the water, and upending.

REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY

Seasonally to perennially monogamous; some forced copulations may occur. Breeding begins in Apr. Nests in tree holes up to 30 ft (10 m) high. Lays 9–12 eggs; incubation 28–30 days; fledging c. 40–45 days. Sexually mature at 1 year.

CONSERVATION STATUS

Not threatened, but of special concern as populations have declined over several decades during the twentieth century.

SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS

Bred by aviculturalists. In China and Japan symbolizes happiness and marital fidelity. Not hunted for food because distasteful.

Note: click on a word meaning below to see its connections and related words.

The noun has one meaning:

Meaning #1: showy crested Asiatic duck; often domesticated
  Synonym: Aix galericulata

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