Mandarin Ducks

Mandarin Ducks

A PAIR is a male/female pair of unrelated birds.

• Breeding season late April into May 
• Clutch Size 8-12 eggs 
• Incubation period 28 days
• 1.5-2 pounds 

 At one time, Mandarin ducks lived all over eastern Asia, but are disappearing rapidly. There are likely fewer than 1,000 pairs in China but there may be as many as 5,000 pairs in Japan.

A long-time favorite of waterfowl enthusiasts throughout the world, Mandarins are being raised in captivity all over the globe. In some places, notably Great Britain, Mandarins that have escaped from private collections have established wild populations. There may be as many as 1,000 pairs living in the wild in Great Britain. Mandarins live in woody areas near water. They are well-adapted for forest-dwelling. Their feet are set more forward on their bodies, making walking on land and perching on trees easier. Mandarins are one of a group of ducks known as "perching ducks."

They eat by making shallow dives and so are also known as "dabblers." While they can dive as many as four feet deep, they prefer to dip just their heads under the water and graze on the insects and plant life just under the surface.

Although they spend a great deal of time in the water, Mandarins nest in the trees. Unfortunately, forests near wetlands are disappearing at a rapid rate and so the wild, native population is dwindling at an alarming pace.

Mandarins do well in captivity, as long as they are kept in covered aviaries or pinioned. They fly well and have been known to travel as far as 500 miles in 24 hours. Although the wild population is suffering, there is a healthy captive population.