Often regarded as the most beautiful species of duck, the drake Mandarin Duck’s ornate plumage has made the creature a staple of Chinese art. Mandarins prefer to make a home in small wooded ponds and can be found perching in trees. The females usually choose to lay their eggs in the holes of trees – which means after hatching, the ducklings must jump down to the ground. However, nesting competition from jackdaws and squirrels makes population growth a challenge for Mandarins.

In Chinese folklore, Mandarin ducks are a symbol of long-lasting love between couples and are frequently used to depict fidelity. They even have a proverb for faithful couples relating to the species: “Two Mandarin ducks playing in water.”

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