Least ConcernMute Swan
Cygnus olor
One of the 10 ducks on WAnimals
Birds · Anseriformes · Anatidae
Aix galericulata
The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk.
An exotic-looking duck with extreme sexual dimorphism. The male wears a red crest with green highlights, two creamy-white stripes around the eyes, a coral-red bill, coppery orange feathers forming a kind of whiskers, a purple breast and throat and, on the back, two large orange "sails" curving upwards. The female is ochre brown with a white eye ring and stripe and mottled flanks.
Weight
360 g – 500 g
Size
41 cm – 50 cm
Life expectancy
12 years
Diet
Omnivore
Combines animal and plant food depending on availability.
Activity
Diurnal
Active mainly during the day.
Social structure
In pairs
Usually lives in pairs, sometimes for life.
Estimated population
65,000-66,000 individuals worldwide. Fewer than 1,000 pairs in eastern Russia and as many again in China; some 5,000 pairs in Japan. The feral population in the United Kingdom is around 1,000 pairs
Sources consulted: IUCN Red List · Wikipedia (Aix galericulata y Mandarin duck) · Asturnatura · Zoobotánico de Jerez · Kaempfer 1727, The History of Japan · Linnaeus 1758 · Boie 1828
Best time: Spring, when the male is in full breeding plumage; in eclipse he resembles the female
The pins mark the parks where its presence is documented.
Parks and dive sites where this species has been documented — showing 10 of 20.
Other species in the catalogue with the most in common with Mandarin Duck — same habitat, park, country, tags or family.
Based on what we already know about mandarin duck.
