Photo: 星外之神 / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Least Concern

Waterbirds

Mandarin Duck

Aix galericulata

Mandarin Duck (Aix galericulata) — Ducks, Geese & Swans of Europe & Northern Asia.

Field guide · LocationsWhere to see this bird

Found across 19 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.

Regional checklists

Birds of New South Wales Birds of Queensland Birds of Victoria Birds of British Columbia Birds of Newfoundland and Labrador Birds of Nova Scotia Birds of Ontario Birds of Quebec Birds of England Birds of Bedfordshire

By family

Ducks, Geese & Swans of New South Wales Ducks, Geese & Swans of Queensland Ducks, Geese & Swans of Victoria Ducks, Geese & Swans of British Columbia Ducks, Geese & Swans of Newfoundland and Labrador Ducks, Geese & Swans of Nova Scotia Ducks, Geese & Swans of Ontario Ducks, Geese & Swans of Quebec Ducks, Geese & Swans of England

See what's near you right now

The Mandarin Duck (Aix galericulata) is a member of the Anatidae family found in Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 567 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.

Conservation status

IUCN Red List

LC Least Concern

Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.

Where it fits

Class Aves
Order Anseriformes
Family Anatidae Ducks, Geese, Swans
Genus Aix
Species galericulata

Where it lives

Southeastern Siberia, Korean Pen., Japan and eastern China

Europe & Northern Asia

Quick facts

Weight: 567 g
Diet: Aquatic plant-eaters
Family: Anatidae
Order: Anseriformes
Habitat: Woodland

How to identify

Similar birds

Least Concern

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Mandarin Duck feeds mainly on aquatic plants and algae.

Behaviour

A bird of open forest, it uses a wide range of foraging strategies.

Migration

The Mandarin Duck is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.

The Mandarin Duck (Aix galericulata) is a species of bird in the Anatidae family, part of the order Anseriformes. It occurs naturally across Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers PAL se Siberia, Korean Pen., Japan and e China.

It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 567 g, with a wing length of about 22.2 cm and a tail of around 9.5 cm.

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

The species has a mapped global range of roughly 1.9 million km².

Songs & calls

Mandarin Duck — Alarm call, flight call

Recorded by Simon Gillings Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Mandarin Duck?

The Mandarin Duck is a large bird that weighs around 567 g.

Where does the Mandarin Duck live?

The Mandarin Duck is found across Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering PAL se Siberia, Korean Pen., Japan and e China, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.

What family does the Mandarin Duck belong to?

The Mandarin Duck (Aix galericulata) belongs to the Anatidae family, in the order Anseriformes.

What does the Mandarin Duck eat?

The Mandarin Duck feeds mainly on aquatic plants and algae.

Does the Mandarin Duck migrate?

The Mandarin Duck is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.

Is the Mandarin Duck endangered?

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

What sound does the Mandarin Duck make?

1 real field recording of the Mandarin Duck — including its alarm call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.

How large is the Mandarin Duck's range?

The Mandarin Duck has a mapped global range of about 1.9 million km².