Female Mandarin Ducks (Identification Guide)

At first glance, the female mandarin duck is difficult to determine that it is indeed the same species as the male mandarin duck (oat). The male mandarin duck is one of nature’s greatest works of art – he is clad in colorful plumage. In contrast, I have to say that the heroine is rather dull!

The difference between female and male mandarin ducks is a textbook example of sexual dimorphism. Gender dimorphism is when a male or female is markedly different from the opposite sex in shape, size, color and form.

Here’s a complete guide to female mandarin ducks and how to easily tell them apart from males, along with some behavioral differences.

A female mandarin duck, swimming on the lake

How to tell if a mandarin duck is male or female?

Identifying male mandarin ducks is easy – they’re some of the oddest-looking birds in the world! Males are brightly colored in shades of green, blue, purple, and metallic copper, with bright orange wings and distinctive crests. Males also have two distinct orange “sails” on either side.

Males have a taller, more upright posture, and their bone shape is slightly different than females. Male mandarin ducks are completely different from females, except that they molt and enter “eclipse plumes” at the end of the breeding season. Believe it or not, mandarin ducks with their “eclipse feathers” don’t look much different from the females!

In contrast, female mandarin ducks have white and brown spots on the breast, white belly, brownish-gray upper plumage, a white stripe over the eyes, and a small blue-green stripe on the side. They are less erect and slightly smaller than males.

female mandarin duck

male mandarin duck

mandarin ducks eclipse their feathers

For a period of time at the end of the breeding season, male and female mandarin ducks do look alike. Males will shed most of their colorful feathers – if you go to a place where mandarin ducks breed, you might even be lucky enough to find some nice feathers on the ground.

After moulting, males resemble females except for their beaks, feet, and crest. This darker plume, called the eclipse plume, can last for about a month in late summer. Unfortunately, this also makes juvenile mandarin ducks harder to identify, as they look similar to both females and dim males!

solar eclipse mandarin duck

What does a female mandarin duck look like?

The female mandarin duck is brownish-gray, with a brown back, spots on the flanks, white and brown spots on the chest, white belly, and conspicuous white stripes on the eyes. The shape of the bill is also slightly different, and the legs are pale. They also have blue-green stripes on their sides, similar to mallards.

Females are shorter and shorter than males, with more oval heads. Like the males, they do have crests protruding from the back of the head, but these are shorter and brownish-gray in color.

Mistaking a female mandarin duck for a male is impossible, unless the male ducks lose most of their colored plumage at the end of the breeding season. Such molted feathers are known as “eclipse feathers.”

However, female mandarin ducks do look very similar to female wood ducks.

Close-up of a female mandarin duck (Aix galericulata)

Are female mandarin ducks bigger than males?

There is some conflicting information on whether female mandarin ducks are larger than males. Some sources seem to cite females being larger than males, but one reputable source suggests males weigh between 571 and 693 grams, while females weigh less than 428 to 608 grams.

From a side-by-side comparison, males appear to be larger than females, which makes sense given their otherwise male-dominated gender-dimorphic traits. Regardless, the male certainly appears bolder and more imposing, thanks to his more upright stance, pronounced crest, brighter feet, and feathery sails.

A pair of mandarin ducks feeding together

Other differences between male and female mandarin ducks

Mandarin ducks differ from many species of ducks in that they are generally solitary, preferring to stay away from large flocks. They are also monogamous, at least during the breeding season, which is not common among ducks.

In Korea, China, and Japan, mandarin ducks have a strong symbolic meaning and are associated with peace, love, and marriage. They have a long history in folklore, dating back to ancient China and Japan, and often appear in Chinese art. A Chinese proverb compares couples to “mandarin ducks playing in the water”, while in Cantonese, couples are compared to mandarin ducks as “even or even” or “mismatched”, referring to their apparent sexual dimorphism.

Although mandarin ducks are a symbol of loyalty, they often “divorce” at the end of the breeding season, and it is still unknown whether they will be able to meet again! However, despite divorcing at the end of the breeding season, mandarin ducks form strong pair bonds with strong pair loyalty.

Perched female mandarin duck (left) and male mandarin duck (right)

call and sing

Mandarin ducks are quieter and you won’t see them quacking like other ducks. Their calls are subtle and gentle, especially in contrast to mallards and other noisy waterfowl. However, males do have a specific whistling and snorting call that is usually reserved for mating season. Females have a subtle “ket” call that sounds a bit like a black duck.

breeding

After mating, the female incubates the eggs alone for about 30 days, longer in the northern hemisphere. The male usually leaves before the eggs hatch and does not participate in raising the chicks. While this may seem somewhat inconsistent with the symbolism of mandarin ducks, it is typical behavior for ducks in general.

Having said that, some cases of males incubating eggs in the absence of the female have been observed, with the male occasionally tending to the female during the incubation process.

Males also protect females during breeding season, either by repelling intruders or by warning her of danger. It’s important to emphasize the tight bond between mandarin ducks — studies have shown that instances of promiscuity and forced mating are rare, in stark contrast to the behavior of other ducks.

A female mandarin duck swimming with her chicks

Behavior

Mandarin duck couples are often described as naughty, and the couple have a deep bond. During breeding season, paired couples will often isolate themselves from the flock and drive off intruders.