The mandarin duck (Aix galericulata) is a bird native to the Asian continent, widespread especially in China and Japan, which can currently be found in certain regions of England and the United States, either in freedom or as fauna in ornamental gardens. It is estimated that there are around 66,000 copies.
This stationary species weighs almost half a kilo and is known for its beautiful colors, although very few people know that only the males show them off. Would you like to know why? Then keep reading this article about the mandarin duck breeding
How to distinguish between male and female?
For most of the year the female and the male Mandarin Duck share a similar coloration, between ocher brown and fairly uniform brownish, with some white areas. However, during the mating season the male's plumage is dressed in bright colors, with the intention of attracting the female.
In this way, the male's colors become bright dark green and red on the head, and a mixture of orange and white on the face. The chest is pure white and the part of the neck purple or violet, accompanied by two white rings. The rest of the body is a rather striking combination of brown to orange, intensifying on the wings.
Throughout the year the females keep their duller brown color, with a white abdomen and the spot around their eyes.
Mating Ritual
Mandarin mating depends on the time of year, with climate change stimulating the transformation of the male's plumage. In this way, the appearance of the so-called nuptial plumage occurs between autumn and winter, the ideal period for courtship, which takes place in places with leafy trees and wooded areas when birds are free.
To this color change that makes it more striking, the male adds a series of behaviours that should be interesting for the female choose it, considering it the best match. To do this, he emits a songwhile he raises the feathers that cover his head, like a crest.
The female observes the proposition and decides whether she will accept it or not. If the answer is positive, the pair formed will remain together during that season, since mandarins are monogamous and tend to be consumed with sadness if one of their partners dies.
After the couple settles down, it will be time to look for the nest, for which the female follows the male to the area where he was born. There they will mate several times a day for a couple of weeks.
Nest and incubation
With the arrival of spring the nest that the couple has chosen must be prepared to lay the eggs. In the area where the male has taken the female, she chooses a hole in the upper part of a tree that seems convenient to bring her offspring into the world. She will prepare the site with grass and some of her own feathers, while the father frightens away potential intruders, including other ducks.
The mandarin lays between 9 and 12 eggs, which the mother must then incubate for a minimum of 28 days and a maximum of 30 During this process the male has no participation, so he meets with other mandarins.
After this time the chicks will hatch, coming into the world with their feathers and much less defenseless than the young of most birds. The newborns will depend on the mother and will want to follow her everywhere, but only for the first few days. From day 45 they will be able to fly, and when they feel a little more independent they will leave the nest area to find their own flock, since mandarins usually walk in groups of up to 100 specimens
