Mandarin Duck

Mandarin ducks breed in eastern Siberia, China, and Japan, with many wintering in southern China and Japan. They favor wooded waterways where mature trees provide natural nesting cavities. Adult males in breeding plumage have upright orange sail feathers, an orange-and-cream crest, and a broad white eye stripe bordered by darker plumage. Females are mostly gray with a curved white marking behind the eye and pale-spotted underparts. Both sexes show a bluish-green iridescent wing patch in flight (Animal Diversity Web).

Their basic diet consists of aquatic plants, rice, and other grains. Courtship includes conspicuous mock-drinking and shaking displays, and pairs formed in early winter may persist through several seasons. The female selects the exact nest cavity, while the male accompanies her during searches. Nests may be placed around nine metres above ground and are lined with down before laying. A clutch contains nine to twelve white, oval eggs deposited at approximately daily intervals. Adults weigh about 428–693 grams (Animal Diversity Web).