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| Mandarin Duck have such a beautiful plumage. |
Mandarin Duck (Aix galericulata) also known as
Mandarin, not like an ordinary duck they have a very beautiful plumage and
choose to live in the wild than in captivity. The species of Mandarin Duck once
widespread in eastern Asia include Russia, China, Korea and Japan. Today there
also some wild Mandarin Ducks in Europe and United States after several of
them escaped to the wild.
The size of
mandarin duck can get around 41 – 49 cm long with 65 – 75 cm wingspan their
size not as big as domesticated duck since they’re also migrating during the winter
season. Chose to live in the tree hole near the water where they can easily
bring their chicks soon after they hatched. This hole can be up to 10 meters
(30 feet) high.
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| Symbolized as good marriage and fidelity. |
Mandarin Duck will
stay together for many mating seasons – in Chinese traditional, Mandarin Ducks
symbolized a long marriage and fidelity. In fact the plumage of male and female
duck is totally different in colors – and the male is exactly have the one who
have the beautiful plumage and features. They also symbolized an “odd couple” –
or the mixture of two different types of the same category.
There’re few main features
in the Mandarin Duck that make it so special and the main feature is the “sail”
in the back of their body, the orange crest, cream feathers and the eye-stripe.
Their “sail” can easily be seen when they swimming in the pond. Compared to the
female, the color is duller but still has the white eye-stripe just like the
male but thinner.
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| Mandarin Duckling. |
Their diets are
pretty much the same like any other ducks such as water plants, rice, and other
grains. Peoples try to breed them and most of them get escape and turn to be
wild again. This is how the Mandarin Duck of Europe and United States came
from.
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