2015 Bonanza Bird #4: Mandarin Duck

December 4, 2015 in Birdorable Bonanza 2015, New Birds and Ducks with 5 comments

Today our Birdorable Bonanza: 2015 Advent Edition continues with a beautiful species of dabbling duck from eastern Asia: the Mandarin Duck.

Male Mandarin Ducks, like our cute Birdorable cartoon version here, are strikingly beautiful, with a unique colorful plumage. The flanks are ruddy, with a contrasting purple breast outlined in black and white. The forehead is teal and the dark eyes stand out against a white crescent-shaped stripe. Two orange sail-like tufts appear at the back.

Mandarin Ducks are closely related to the Wood Duck of North America. Mandarins nest in trees, often in dense woods, near fresh water.

Because of their beauty, Mandarin Ducks are popular in waterfowl collections. Escaped birds have established populations outside of their native range of eastern Asia. In Europe, there are large Mandarin Duck populations in Britain and Germany; in the United States you can find Mandarin Ducks living in the wild in parts of North Carolina and California.

Mandarin Duck by Tambako The Jaguar (CC BY-ND 2.0)

Mandarin Duck by Michael Button (CC BY 2.0)

Mandarin Duck by thecrypt (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Tomorrow's bird is a great woodpecker that can be found in Europe and north Asia. Can you guess what it will be?

Cute Mandarin Duck Gifts

From Zazzle

Birdorable Mandarin Duck Stone Coaster

From Zazzle

Birdorable Mandarin Duck T-Shirt

Comments

Gustavo Carvalho Dias on December 4, 2015 at 10:48 AM wrote:

Maybe European Green Woodpecker (Picus viridis)?

???c????? ????? (White-throated Sparrow) on December 4, 2015 at 3:32 PM wrote:

Omg I'm right :3 I think Great Spotted Woodpecker or Lesser Spotted Woodpecker at least. Easy for me :D

anonim on March 16, 2016 at 10:23 AM wrote:

maybe last picture is the best

Louise Warner on February 16, 2017 at 7:20 AM wrote:

a woodpecker of some kind(i do not know)?

Louise Warner on February 16, 2017 at 7:23 AM wrote:

great spotted woodpecker or Eurasian spotted woodpecker( lesser spotted woodpecker)

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