Callum Macgregor

Mandarin Duck is native to E Asia, but there are several settled feral populations in NW Europe (BirdLife International 2021). The European population grew rapidly until late 1990, but is currently declining (BirdLife International 2021). Said to be a threated bird in its native breeding area, so  the European populations may have a conservation value (Van Kleunen & Lemaire 2014), although it is listed as of Least Concern (BirdLife International 2021). 

Franks, S., Fiedler, W., Arizaga, J., Jiguet, F., Nikolov, B., van der Jeugd, Ambrosini, R, Aizpurua, O., Bairlein, F., Clark, J., Fattorini, N, Hammond, M., Higgins, D, Levering, H., Skellorn, W., Spina, F, Thorup, K. Walker, J., Woodward, I. and Baillie, S.R. (1) (2022) Online Atlas of the movements of European bird populations. https://migrationatlas.org EURING/CMS (1) Principal investigator
Map

Overall Connectivity for Mandarin Duck

Most movements are short-distance (<1,000 km) post-fledging/post-breeding dispersal. Mainly resident in NW Europe, athough some individuals migrate, reaching the Bay of Biscay in N Iberia. Continental populations (from C, W and N Europe) seem to be more mobile, with clearer seasonal movements to the W and S, probably to avoid iced water bodies but connectivity seems to be low.

Recoveries by Condition for Mandarin Duck

Most recoveries (>97%) are of birds seen alive and identified by their metal ring or colour marks. In contrast to other duck species, there are few recoveries from shooting before 1991 (~ 7%), when most recoveries were of birds intentionally taken (84%), probably for waterfowl collections, parks and zoos (Van Kleunen & Lemaire 2014); since 1991 fewer than 1% of recoveries are intentionally taken.

Annual Movements for Mandarin Duck

Dispersal starts in Jul-Aug. Birds making longer-distance movements seem to reach their wintering sites rapidly, as early as Aug-Sep. Wintering reported at least up to Jan, with most recoveries being found between 50°-55° N.

Connectivity by Month by Region for Mandarin Duck

NW population starts post-fledging/post-breeding dispersal in Jul/Aug - there is a recovery in the Bay of Biscay in Aug of a bird ringed in the British Isles. Recoveries of two adult males ringed in the British Isles and shot in Russia in Apr and Oct show that the British Isles host wintering birds from NE Europe. The Scandinavian population largely winters from S Scandinavia to the British Isles, with recoveries in what are presumably the winter quarters from Sep to Jan. Recoveries in Central Europe occur mostly in Sep and may be of birds still on passage.

Olatz Aizpurua & Juan Arizaga

References

Statistics Map
N records N individuals N recoveries
Mapped data*
Total available data
*Mapped data include only distant (>= 50 km) recoveries
References Map
BirdLife International2021 . Species factsheet: Aix galericulata.
Van Kleunen A., Lemaire A.J.J.2014 . A risk assessment of Mandarin Duck (Aix Galericulata) in the Netherlands. Sovon-report 2014/15. Sovon-report 2014/15 Sovon Dutch Centre for Field Ornithology, Nijmegen

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