Mandarin Duck
Aix galericulata
Also known as: Mandarin
Habitat
Aquatic
Diet
PlantSeed
Active Time
Diurnal
Size
567 g
About This Species
Native to East Asia, this cavity-nesting duck also has long-established feral populations in parts of Europe, including Britain, where it favours wooded lakes, ponds and slow rivers with overhanging trees. The male's ornate, multicoloured plumage and prominent crest make it unmistakable, especially during the autumn and winter courtship period when pairs display on quiet water. Early morning light on a calm pond, with birds resting near overhanging branches or emerging from tree-cavity nest sites in spring, offers the best views.
Ethical Viewing Guidelines
- Viewing from a path or bank a good distance from the water lets birds continue feeding and displaying normally, since this is a wary species that will swim off or take flight if crowded.
- Legal protection differs by country: it is a fully protected native species in parts of its Asian range but a naturalised, non-native species in Europe, where protections are generally weaker, so local rules should be checked rather than assumed.
- Not feeding the birds, particularly with bread, helps keep populations on wild, natural food sources.
Seasonal Activity
247,967 sightings · 2000–2026
Citizen science records via GBIF
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Aves
- Order
- Anseriformes
- Family
- Anatidae
Traits
- Diet
- PlantSeed
- Foraging
- Aquatic
- Activity
- Diurnal
- Body mass
- 567 g
Photo
(c) Alexis Lours, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Alexis Lours
CC-BY-4.0
Occurrence data from GBIF.