Birds › Garden pond › Mandarin Duck

Mandarin Duck

Aix galericulata

In China a pair of mandarin ducks is a symbol of love and faithfulness and a popular wedding gift.

Where to see it for real: Look for it on wooded ponds and park lakes; it nests in tree holes.

Spot it in the game

Lives in the Garden pond habitat (East Asia, at the Summer Palace in Beijing).

Mandarin Duck facts

Family

Ducks, geese and swans

Length

18 in (45 cm)

Wingspan

28 in (70 cm)

Weight

20 oz (570 g)

Diet

Seeds, acorns, water plants, snails and insects.

Range

East Asia: eastern Russia, China, Korea and Japan; introduced in Britain.

Nest

A tree hole near water; the ducklings jump out soon after hatching.

Song

Mostly quiet; males give a short whistle.

Active

at dawn, by day and at dusk

Status

Least Concern on the IUCN Red List: widespread and not at risk.

What the Mandarin Duck sounds like

How to attract the Mandarin Duck

Feeder foods, favorite first: millet. Feeders that hold them: tube feeder and platform feeder. Keep a bird bath full, too.

In the game: fill a feeder with millet and keep the bird bath full. It is an uncommon visitor, so be patient.

More: bird songs and calls, what to feed birds.

More birds of the garden pond

Common KingfisherGarden pondLittle EgretGarden pondChinese Pond HeronGarden pondBlack-crowned Night HeronGarden pondAzure-winged MagpieGarden pondLight-vented BulbulGarden pond