II. Birds of Splendor
Mandarin duck
Index Naturae
IN 1.50.07-J
Mandarin duck
Aix galericulata
Young portrait
II. Birds of Splendor
Field notes
The male mandarin’s ornamental plumage is seasonal: after breeding, he becomes much less conspicuous. These woodland ducks nest high in tree hollows. Before they can fly, the ducklings leap down and follow their mother towards water, where their next stage of life begins.
- Range
- Native to East Asia, including Russia, China, Korea and Japan; introduced populations occur elsewhere.
- Habitat
- Wooded ponds, lakes, rivers and streams, with tree cavities for nesting.
Conservation
Introduced populations in Britain have expanded, but that trend describes Britain rather than the native Asian range. The species’ dependence on wooded waterways and tree cavities makes the condition of both water and surrounding woodland relevant.
Sources & conservation context
- Tokyo Zoological Park Society — Mandarin Duck
- Kyoto City Zoo — Mandarin Duck
- British Trust for Ornithology — Mandarin Duck
Source review: 6 October 2026. Assessment dates, where given, belong to the cited source.