This week, I’m showing off the Mandarin drake. One of the most beautifully feathered of all ducks, this bird has a special place in my heart. My father kept them among his backyard bird collection, so I developed a fondness for them at an early age. At Disney’s Animal Kingdom, you can find Mandarin ducks on the Maharajah Jungle Trek.

They are somewhat similar in appearance to wood ducks of North America. Both birds belong to the same genus.

Conservation status – Least concern
Habitat – Native to East Asia, introduced populations exist now in parts of the United Kingdom, Europe and United States