identification please

the naturelover · #1 (**permalink**) 13-02-2011, 12:24 AM

Hi. Can anyone put a name to this bird please, found with mallards coots moorhens and swans on my local pond, stranger to me can't find it in my books.

many thanks tn.

Ferret · #2 (**permalink**) 13-02-2011, 01:56 AM

I don’t think you will find this one in any book on wild birds, I think it is a white female Mandarin Aix galericulata purely an ornamental duck derived from an American species have a look at this link and see what you think Bird Species - Mandarin Duck

Ferret

aeshna5 · #3 (**permalink**) 13-02-2011, 05:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ferret

I don’t think you will find this one in any book on wild birds, I think it is a white female Mandarin Aix galericulata purely an ornamental duck derived from an American species have a look at this link and see what you think Bird Species - Mandarin Duck

Ferret

Agree this appears to be a white female Mandarin. however they are originally from China not the Americas; perhaps you're thinking of the other Aix species, the Wood Duck, A.sponsa,, which is also common in captivity + does come from North America.

Ferret · #4 (**permalink**) 13-02-2011, 12:12 PM

Thanks aeshna5, Yes I was indeed getting mixed up, I really shouldn’t answer these queries after a visit to my local, you are quite correct the Mandarin is indeed native to China, Japan and Eastern Russia and I new that but I did not know that breeders had developed these colour strains, it saddens me a little when they do this as they inevitably escape and interbreed with the naturally coloured birds and although this is a striking bird I don’t think it is a patch on the natural colours. I think I will shut up there before I drag this tread miles away from its source.

Ferret