Meet the Mandarin duck, regularly dubbed the most beautiful bird in the world, and it’s easy to see why. With its strikingly colorful feathers and unique shape, it really is like no other animal we have ever seen before.
All you bird fanatics out there will be excited to know that the Mandarin Duck, profoundly rated as one of the winsome, picturesque, and most beautiful birds in the world, has once again been spotted in Canada. Well, to be well-defined, the colorful duck is native to China and Japan, but that now makes this discovery even more special.
Perhaps one of the most “famous” male Mandarin ducks in North America can be found in British Columbia, Canada. Affectionately named “Trevor,” this duck moves between Burnaby Lake and Deer Lake, both located in suburban Vancouver. Trevor first made a splash in 2018, when he was sighted swimming between the common mallards native to the area.
They were brought over from China in the 20th century by the Mandarins but some of them escaped and created their own feral colony, and this is how their population was cultivated in Britain and other places around the world. As you may see from the photos, they are multi-colored. With a red bill, white crescent over its eyes, orange face and ‘whiskers’.
The breast is purple with bronze-colored sides. The top of the back is blue with two orange ‘sails’ just below it that stick up, just like a boat sail. Only the male of the species is this unique coloring. The female is a much duller grey color with a white striped running from her eyes and white spotted breast.
Spotting one of these guys in North America is possible, but extremely rare. You may remember the ‘famous’ Mandarin duck called Trevor from Vancouver who went viral. These stunning ducks don’t have any natural predators in the west, so when they were first accidentally introduced to the west, there were worries that they may become invasive.
Trevor isn’t the only Mandarin duck to make a splash. In 2018, another male Mandarin made a name for himself when he was spotted in Central Park. Affectionately named Mandarin Patinkin after Broadway actor Mandy Patinkin, he caused a sensation and was named “New York’s Most Eligible Bachelor” by New York Magazine’s The Cut. This caused the bird to also get the nickname “Hot Duck.” Bird lovers watched his every movement as he also visited Brooklyn and New Jersey.
Though Mandarin Patinkin was banded, his origins were unknown and he ended up disappearing just as mysteriously as he appeared. His last sighting was in March 2019. While the enthusiasm for these exotic Mandarins is understandable, there is another side to consider. These animals are not native and are most likely escaped domestic pets. This is particularly true of the Central Park duck, which had a band.
In fact, the only Mandarin duck colonies that exist in North America—the largest is in northern California—were formed by escaped or released domestic ducks. The danger with this is that these non-native species can sometimes become invasive. As they don’t have any natural predators in the ecosystem they’re dropped into, they can quickly spiral out of control and overrun local wildlife. This is why there are strict controls on the ownership and release of exotic animals. In fact, the reason why no one stepped forward to claim the Central Park duck is probably because it’s actually illegal to own these animals as pets in the city.
So while we can admire their colorful plumage and try to unravel the mystery of where they came from, we should also remember to appreciate the native mallards we already have. Locals are thrilled that “Trevor,” a male Mandarin duck, has been spotted in British Columbia for the third year.
They usually eat plants and seeds but are known to enjoy the odd snail, insect or small fish to their diet, depending on the season. The Mandarins biggest threat is due to habitat loss from logging. They are not listed as endangered.
