Mandarin Duck

East Asia · colorful birds · perching duck

Rainbow male plumage. Male mandarin ducks are covered in brilliant orange, blue, purple, and white feathers that look like an artist painted them. Female mandarin ducks have much more muted gray and brown colors so they blend in better while caring for eggs.

Medium-sized swimmer. Mandarin ducks are about 16 to 19 inches long, roughly the size of a basketball, with a wingspan of 26 to 30 inches to help them glide through the air.

Perching in trees. Unlike most ducks that nest on the ground, mandarin ducks are perching ducks that can land on and rest in tree branches and hollow tree trunks.

Twin with wood ducks. The mandarin duck's closest relative is the North American wood duck, and they're the only two ducks in their special group called the genus Aix.

Spread around the world. While mandarin ducks are native to East Asia, people brought them to Europe and Great Britain where they've created new wild populations far from home.