An Uncommon Visitor

Image: © David Dixon Taken: 3 Jun 2015

Perched on a piece of wood on the bank of the Manchester, Bolton and Bury Canal between Radcliffe and Little Lever, this brightly coloured duck stood out from the mallards and geese around it. see also:Image] and Image It is almost certainly a Mandarin Duck with its distinctive long orange feathers on the side of the face although it is leaner and less brightly coloured than most other photos I have seen of this species, probably because it is an escapee from a collection (although not clear in this photograph, its right leg was ringed). The mandarin duck (Aix galericulata), or just mandarin, is a perching duck species found in East Asia. It is medium-sized, at 41–49 cm long with a 65–75 cm wingspan. They were introduced to the UK from China and, following escapes from captivity in the 20th century, a large feral population became established in south, central and eastern England; more recently small numbers have bred in Ireland, concentrated in the parks of Dublin. The male has the most elaborate and ornate plumage with distinctive long orange feathers on the side of the face, orange 'sails' on the back, and pale orange flanks. The female is dull by comparison with a grey head and white stripe behind the eye, brown back and mottled flanks. http://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/discoverandlearn/birdguide/name/m/mandarin/ RSPB

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