# Mandarin Duck

*Aix galericulata*

Unlike most ducks, Mandarins are adept at perching in trees and the ducklings must jump from high tree cavities to reach the water below.

- **Taxonomy:** Animalia › Chordata › Aves › Anseriformes › Anatidae › Aix
- **IUCN Red List status:** Least Concern
- **Population trend:** stable
- **Biome:** wetland
- **Habitat:** Dense, shrubby forested edges of rivers, lakes, and marshes with overhanging vegetation.
- **Diet:** Omnivorous: primarily seeds, acorns, small fish, aquatic insects, and land snails.
- **Range:** China, Japan, Korea, Eastern Russia, United Kingdom (Introduced), United States (Introduced)
- **Size:** 41-49 cm in length with a 65-75 cm wingspan.
- **Lifespan:** 6-10 years
- **Active:** crepuscular
- **Threats:** Habitat destruction, drainage of wetlands, and poaching.
- **Safe to approach?:** Harmless and shy. Observe from a distance to avoid causing stress or flushing them from their cover. Do not feed bread, as it causes 'angel wing' deformity and pollutes their habitat.

## About

The mandarin duck ( Aix galericulata ) is a perching duck species found in East Asia. It is medium-sized, at 41–49 cm (16–19 in) long with a 65–75 cm (26–30 in) wingspan. It is closely related to the North American wood duck, the only other member of the genus Aix . Aix is an Ancient Greek word which was used by Aristotle to refer to an unknown diving bird, and galericulata is the Latin for a wig, derived from galerum , a cap or...

## Sources

- Plate: https://gaia-dex.com/species/ad558825-6e02-4419-af78-722556c2ade8
- iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/7106
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aix galericulata
- Conservation status: IUCN Red List category, as recorded by Gaia-Dex
- Photo: https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/171955255/medium.jpg (Alexis Lours, CC-BY, via iNaturalist)

Habitat, diet, size and similar notes are AI-written summaries; check them against the linked sources before relying on them.