Copyright ©2018 Deborah M. Zajac. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Several months ago I went birding near Sacramento, CA. to look for two exotic ducks, one was the Wood Duck which I blogged about here. The other was the Mandarin Duck.
The week before I visited the pond there were two pair at the pond, but the morning I went there was only a lone male. He’s gorgeous don’t you think?
He sought the shade of a palm tree, but soon came out from under again, thankfully!
Here are several facts about the Mandarin Duck:
The Mandarin Duck Drake is widely considered the world’s most beautiful of the ducks. It’s a native of China and Japan. They favor small wooded ponds and avoid large bodies of water.
There are limited populations in the United States; they’re usually escapees from captivity. China exported thousands of Mandarins, but the trade was banned in 1975.
They are wonderful fliers, able to fly through trees, with remarkable agility.
They will often perch in trees, but the female will lay her eggs (9-12 eggs) in a hole or cavity of a tree, or if a nesting box if one is available. Once the Female has gathered her brood she takes them straight to the water! Mandarin Ducks only pair up for a season. New pairs form again in the Fall/Autumn. ~https://www.livingwithbirds.com/tweetapedia/21-facts-on-mandarin-duck
I was thrilled there was still one there for me to see and photograph.
Nikon D810| Nikkor 200-500mm @500mm| f/8| 1/200s| ISO 800| Tripod w/Wimberley Sidekick Gimbal Head
more to come…
Circadianreflections Blog 
I have never seen one of those. They are quite striking! Thanks for sharing Deborah!
Aren’t they gorgeous! Maybe one day on your travels you see one, and know what it is. 😊
Amazing colours. Good job!
Aren’t they! Thank you so much!!
What a handsome fella!
Isn’t he! I’m so glad you like him too!
This hardly looks real, more like a Flemish painting- the ones I enjoy in museums. Thank you for posting this beauty.
I’m so glad you enjoyed seeing the image of this beauty Jennie! Thank you so much!
A pleasure, Deborah.
A stunning duck and marvelous captures, Deborah! I would LOVE to see and capture one of these in the wild, congrats!!
Thank you so much Donna! Maybe someday you’ll see one! You never know. 🙂
I really hope so! 🙂
Me too!
I admire your adding research to your posts with nature and creatures, Deborah. This raises your posts above the other photographers. . . You are miles above the rest. Simply the best in my mind, dear friend. hugs! 💞
Thank you so much Robin! I’m going to float on your compliment the rest of the week! xx
You can see every color, feather and interesting details in these magnificent ducks, because of your skill of photography. So glad I had you floating but I am not always say what I should in appreciation of your photos. I don’t need to subscribe to a professional magazine! xo
Hahahaha! You’re far too kind!! Thank you so much! xx
They are just so striking and fancy 🙂
They are! Thanks so much for the comment and visit! 😊
I love these ducks! They don’t even look real. The couple of times I have seen them they were alone in the middle of a large group of various other birds and ducks. Like a splash of paint on canvas. Great shots Deborah!
Thank you so much Cheryl! The don’t look real do they? I’m glad they are though. 😊
Me too! It’s like finding a rare jewel to me when I get to photograph one.
We have ducks, but this guy is a DUCK. I hope he doesn’t mind me saying that he is downright beautiful. 🙂
I’m sure he wouldn’t mind at all! 😉 Thank you so much for the lovely comment!
This is one beautiful duck, and you have some beautiful images of it!
Thank you so much John! Your new camp looks good. Glad to hear you have birds coming to your feeder already!
So gorgeous
Thank Lynn!
Beautiful, Deborah.
Thanks John!
omg – he’s so cute! He looks like a little toy!
He does doesn’t he. 🙂
He’s adorable!
You got a beauty! Wish I had gone to check out the pond when I first saw other images; maybe they will return. Alternative is to go to Texas to visit the lady that breeds these ducks 🙂
Thank you so much Gordon! A field trip!! I’d be in. 🙂
What a beautiful bird! He hardly even looks real!
I know right! He’s so fancy. Thanks for the lovely comment Marian!
He’s a beauty Deborah. Nicely captured!
Thank you so much Belinda!
This really is a beautiful duck. I love the shot from under the palm.
Thank you so much Melissa! I’m glad you liked that image too.
Absolutely gorgeous, Deborah. I’m going to be in southern California for a few days toward the end of the month. Wish I had time to get up your way, but I’ll wave. 🙂
janet
Thank you so much Janet! I wish you had time too. I’ll wave back! 🙂
Wow – that certainly is one beautiful duck. It’s so colorful and it has an interesting shape in the water. Thanks for the facts, otherwise, I’d be googling right about now. And, thanks for taking the trip and sharing the results with us.
Thanks very much for the comment Dan!
He was worth the drive over. It had been a few years since I last saw one. That was a lone male too. Probably another escapee. We thought so at the time. 🙂
I’m glad you appreciated the little bit of facts I included too.
Beautiful!
Thank you so much!
You are welcome!