Amazing nature #147 - Mandarin duck
Today we will talk about the Mandarin duck, a very beautiful species, one of the most symbolized and illustrated birds of all times.
There are soccer teams, baseball teams, restaurants, business companies, bars and a lot of places that have adopted ducks as their emblem or name to be noticed.
In the case of the Mandarin duck, its brightly colored plumage stands out, recently in central park, the crowded park and vegetable lung of the city of New York was surprised by a Mandarin duck, the truth is that the majority of those attending the park did not know what type of bird it was.
It originates from China, Japan and Siberia, was introduced in the last century to Europe, but due to its climatic and nutritional conditions only live about 1000 couples, worldwide are estimated about 65,000 specimens of Mandarin duck.
His preferred place to live are dense forests, and large shallow lagoons, having them as pets increases the likelihood of escape from captivity, allowing him to populate areas especially in Europe, as is the case in the United Kingdom where there are estimated to be about 1500 birds.
They stand out and are very quoted by their plumage, their robust aspect calls much the attention of any appreciator, they can measure about 45cm of length and weigh between 700 and 900 grams. Mandarin ducks are accompanied by sexual dimorphism, both female and male are very similar.
Although there are differences such as for example the male can be differentiated from the female by his red top with green metallic shines in the area of his forehead and two white side stripes, and his beak coral red. His chest is purple and the belly a white tone and some parts of his plumage with cream tones.
The female is distinguished by having more ochre tones and the lower parts of a paler tone.
According to Chinese tradition it is considered an animal that has good fortune, love, and conjugal affection, so for centuries it has been raised domestically to keep in lagoons or ponds common in Asian houses, as well as the tradition of giving at weddings to the bride and groom so that their lives are impregnated with good luck.
Its food condition is herbivorous, it feeds mainly on aquatic plants or plants that have been flooded, being able to eat its stems submerged in shallow water. Although she spends most of her life in the water, sometimes she comes out to the ground to eat some seeds and nuts, this happens especially when it is the season to have young, as she usually makes her nests in hollow parts of the trees.
They are monogamous, so they have a stable partner throughout their lives.
Once they have mated, the male and female participate together in the incubation period of the eggs, laying up to 12 eggs. And the incubation period lasts from 20 to 30 days, being the mother the one that spends more time with the eggs, after a couple of months the chicks are ready for their training in the lagoons where they learn to choose their food and defend themselves from other predators.
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That's the most colorful 🦆 I have seen 😍
In China, Mandarin duck is seen as a symbol of love for husband and wife.