Mandarin Ducks' Unique Parenting

Did you know that because the mandarin drake (male duck) wears such bright, extravagant plumage, he isn’t allowed near the nesting female? She handles the entire nesting and child-rearing process alone—from incubating the eggs to ensuring her ducklings’ first leap into the world.

She doesn’t feed her young. Instead, she waits until all her eggs have hatched, then jumps from the tree cavity or nesting box and calls her ducklings. One by one, they follow, tumbling to the ground before scrambling after her. She knows the direct route to the pond, where her little ones are safer and can feed themselves immediately.

At this point, the drake still wears his vibrant colours, but that changes later when he enters eclipse plumage, shedding his showy feathers for a more subdued look.

Once the mother has finished rearing her young and the father has traded his bright suit for a plainer one, they are said to find each other again, resuming their lifelong bond.

This is why mandarin ducks are often seen as symbols of love and loyalty—unlike many other ducks they do not part ways.

Whether this is always true, we may never know, but watching them glide together, so close and tender, is enough to make anyone’s heart melt. What a couple.

Paula Kuitenbrouwer

~artist at www.paulakuitenbrouwer.com~

Contact me freely at artisan@handmadeluxuryhome.eu