Mandarin Duck
A symbol of fidelity
This little duck is famous and much appreciated as an ornamental bird because of the superb plumage… of the male; that of the female, by contrast, is rather dull. Sexual dimorphism in this species is thus very marked.
Its Russian and Chinese populations have been greatly reduced (to a few hundred couples, it is thought) due to the destruction of their natural habitat. In Japan, there were also only few birds left, but a contribution of couples coming from European breeding centres has brought up their numbers in the wild.
Introduced to Europe a long time ago, via England, the Mandarin Duck develops well and is abundant.
Couples remain stable, to such an extent that this duck is a symbol of fidelity: in particular in China but also in Korea, where it is sometimes offered as a gift to bridegrooms.
In Cantonese Chinese, the expression “a couple of mandarins” is used to describe an ill-assorted human couple, by allusion to the difference of plumage!
A less threatened species
- Name: Mandarin Duck
- Latin name: Aix galericulata
- Origin: South-Eastern Siberia, China, Japan
- IUCN status: Least concerned
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