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Mandarin Duck


Mandarin Duck
Photo Information
Copyright: Peter van Zoest (PeterZ) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2348 W: 92 N: 5361] (17140)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2009-05-24
Categories: Birds
Camera: Nikon D300, AF Nikkor 70-300mm f4-5.6 G, Digital RAW
Exposure: f/9.0, 1/320 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2009-06-28 5:56
Viewed: 617
Points: 76
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
The next duck in the series. This photo is taken in a bird park. Maybe this Mandarin Duck is not very original, but belongs in my series.

The Mandarin Duck (Aix galericulata), or just Mandarin, is a medium-sized perching duck, closely related to the North American Wood Duck. It is 41-49 cm long with a 65-75 cm wingspan.

The adult male is a striking and unmistakable bird. It has a red bill, large white crescent above the eye and reddish face and "whiskers". The breast is purple with two vertical white bars, and the flanks ruddy, with two orange "sails" at the back. The female is similar to female Wood Duck, with a white eye-ring and stripe running back from the eye, but is paler below, has a small white flank stripe, and a pale tip to its bill.

Mandarin Ducks, which are referred to by the Chinese as Yuan-yang (simplified Chinese: 鸳鸯; traditional Chinese: 鴛鴦; pinyin: yuān yāng), are frequently featured in Oriental art and are regarded as a symbol of conjugal affection and fidelity.

A Chinese proverb for loving couples uses the Mandarin Duck as a metaphor: "Two mandarin ducks playing in water" (simplified Chinese: 鸳鸯戏水; traditional Chinese: 鴛鴦戲水; pinyin: yuān yāng xì shuǐ). The Mandarin Duck symbol is also used in Chinese weddings, because in traditional Chinese lore they symbolize wedded bliss and fidelity.

The species was once widespread in eastern Asia, but large-scale exports and the destruction of its forest habitat have reduced populations in eastern Russia and in China to below 1,000 pairs in each country; Japan, however, is thought to still hold some 5,000 pairs.

Specimens frequently escape from collections, and in the 20th century a feral population numbering about 1,000 pairs was established in Great Britain. Although this is of great conservational significance, the birds are not protected in the UK since the species is not native there.

In the wild, Mandarin Ducks breed in densely wooded areas near shallow lakes, marshes or ponds. They nest in cavities in trees close to water. Shortly after the ducklings hatch, their mother flies to the ground and coaxes the ducklings to leap from the nest. The Asian populations are migratory, overwintering in lowland eastern China and southern Japan.

Mandarins feed by dabbling or walking on land. They mainly eat plants and seeds, especially beechmast. They feed mainly near dawn or dusk, perching in trees or on the ground during the day.

Mandarins may form small flocks in winter, but rarely associate with other ducks.

Source: Wikipedia
albert, nglen, jconceicao, ramthakur, nasokoun, siggi, Gert-Paassen, goldyrs, Pentaxfriend, Noisette, eqshannon, jaycee, CeltickRanger, uleko, anel, Argus, jcoowanitwong, techranger, giorgio, boreocypriensis, goutham_ramesh has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2865 W: 34 N: 8488] (31708)
  • [2009-06-28 6:00]

Hi Peter. This had to be in your series as its one of the most colour duck around. You have taken this one with fine detail and sharp focusing. Your use of the light has given bright natural colours. well done TFS,
Nick..

Hello Peter,

Another excellent photo of Duck.
Nice colours with great definition.
Lighting and definition are fantastic
Good note.

Hi Peter, coincidentally now you are my neighbor today!

Your picture of this magnificent mandarin duck, a truly exuberant, full of contrasting colors and striking.

Congratulations for the way you handled the light conditions. Excellent! has achieved a great level of detail, I believe you used the timing perfect, the water is calm and adjusted, allowing a perfect definition of the bird.

Nice work!

TFS!

Greetings

Jesús

  • Great 
  • foozi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1299 W: 0 N: 2470] (8765)
  • [2009-06-28 6:52]

Hi Peter,
really very beautiful. This species do not exist here. Such a pleasure to have it shot in real.
Very nicely presented with shiny feathers and lovely colours.

regards,
Foozi

Hello Peter,
what a wonderful colourful picture of the Mandarin Duck, very good sharpness and splendid colours, well composed with a good reflection.
TFS
Best regards
Maurizio

Very cute Duck, Peter, and more so because you are behind the lens here.
There is marked cheerfulness about the colours on this bird and it comes through strongly in your image.
Well done and TFS.
Ram

  • Great 
  • zetu Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 643 W: 15 N: 1562] (6091)
  • [2009-06-28 7:55]

Hello Peter
Thia is a beautiful bird, and you take a wonderful photo. Well done.
Razvan

hello Peter
incredibly beautiful exquisite colours the magic of nature,excellent subject very fine capture
TFS
Nasos

hello Peter!
good proposition with this beautiful mandarin that go to complete the series of ducks
perfect details and vivid colors

best sERGIO

  • Great 
  • siggi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1338 W: 56 N: 4515] (15556)
  • [2009-06-28 11:19]

Hello Peter,
Beautiful lighiting, colors, and texture. You have really exposed some amazing detail. I like the reflection on the water.
Best regards Siggi

Hallo Peter,

Alweer eemn mooie foto van een eenden soort.
Ook deze heeft weer een prachtige tekening met mooie kleuren.
Mooi de stucturen vastgelegd.

Gert

This duck series of your seems to get better with every new shot you're adding, Peter!
This Mandarin Duck has some beautiful colours which you show very well in this shot!
Bravo!
Goldy

Ciao Peter. Fantastic colours and lighting graphic effects. Excellent light management.

Roberto

Hallo Peter,

De meest kleurrijke eend die er is in europa staat er geweldig op.
Het wit lijkt mij een tikkeltje overbelicht (kan ook aan mij liggen,nieuwe monitor)
kleur en scherpte is prachtig.

TFS Thijs

Ciao Peter, elegant mandarin duck with fantastic colors, splendid sharpness and wonderful reflections, very well done, ciao Silvio

Hello Peter
amazing shot of this Mandarin, it's a very beautiful colored bird and you have captured it superbly with great details and superb lighting
i like the side view, so we can see his wonderful plumage
Have a good night

This one is perfect in photo and in nature...it is a name which almost anyone knows but few have seen and your image would be the one to see if one wanted to know!
Bob

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2493 W: 11 N: 6885] (21912)
  • [2009-06-28 16:35]

Hi Peter,

I knew there would have to be a Mandarin Duck in your series! You have captured the colors, patterns, textures and details perfectly. He is very beautiful and colorful with a lovely catchlight in his eye. From now on when I want to ID a duck I'll just go to your gallery. Great series!

Jane

hello Peter

excellent close-up photo of the Mandarin Duck, with fine POV,
beautiful luminosity, excellent sharpness and details,
beautiful multicolour of the duck's plumage,
i love to see on the image his head's reflection, TFS

Asbed

Hi Peter
Nice capture.
Good clarity and nice colors.
Congratulaions!

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2961 W: 162 N: 826] (2453)
  • [2009-06-29 1:30]

Hello Peter,
The Mandarin Duck almost looks like a toy in its stunning plumage! A fine capture in great colours although slightly OE.
TFS and regards, Ulla

Hi Peter,
A nice capture of this beautiful Mandarin Duck. Lovely composition and sharp details. Thanks a lot for sharing.

Hello Peter
Superb capture with incredible details and colours
Well done
Albert

  • Great 
  • anel Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1691 W: 0 N: 3814] (15352)
  • [2009-06-29 5:32]

Hello Peter,
This species must be among the most beautiful ducks. What a range of marvellous colors, probably shining differently depending of the light.
Breautiful shot, well composed and with a lovely attitude of this Mandarin Duck.
Really well done.
Thanks and take care
Anne

  • Great 
  • iris Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 469 W: 60 N: 947] (3016)
  • [2009-06-29 5:37]

Hello Peter,
It has been sometime since i came in here.And Mandarin ducks are one that interests with their melange of colours.They are interesting to me also because i have'nt seen them ever in real life. You present a nice capture with fine details and clarity.I feel the light was a bit harsh on the subject.Never-the-less the bird looks well highlighted with good sharpness.

Thanks for sharing
Cheers
Silpa

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3750 W: 187 N: 11171] (34499)
  • [2009-06-29 8:25]

Hello Peter,
A superb capture of this eye-catching duck. The POV, sharpness, colours and lighting portray this male in an excellent way!
This species has become feral in Sweden too but it is not yet accepted as one of our bird species.
Thanks and have a good week,
Ivan

Hi Peter,
This is a colorful duck. A fantastic photo that shows details and nice natural colors. Also like the way you presnet this Mandarin Duck.
JC

Hello Peter,

They are amazing birds!
One might wonder what nature had in mind when creating this guy, if it was something eye-catching the result is a success...
The colours and details are well reproduced, fine work!

Greetings,
Pablo -

I love your gorgeous duck/waterfowl shots... this one is no exception. Beautifully brillant color and detail. Love the fringed neck area... absolutely outstanding Peter... TFS.

Larry

Ciao Peter,
entering your gallery I have felt as I assuage him that it goes to school from Leonardo da Vinci, very beautiful and rich of fantastic photos, I like this for the spectacular colors and the perfect sharp.
congratulation
Giorgio

Hello Peter
An awesome capture of this beauty with wonderful details and fine composition.
TFS and cheers,
Bayram

This is riot of colors and what a colorful painter nature is! Love the picture for its simplistic composition and those plumage

Great shot, beautiful light, good sharpness. Nice composition.
Best wishes,
Achim

Hello Peter ,
Colors excellent .
TFS .

  • Great 
  • briGG Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 171 W: 2 N: 272] (1383)
  • [2009-07-02 6:56]

Hello Peter,

A fine sharp capture of a mandarin taken from a POV very "stringent"

TFs

brigitte

Slav Peter,
A wonderful capture of this beautiful mandarin duck.Splendîd light and colours.Very good sharpness.
Regards.
Dûrzan

Le mandarin est surement un des plus beau canard du monde,
les couleurs sur cette photo sont fantastique, très bonne lumière,
Bravo

Hello Peter
great exposition, details and focusing for a shot on this beautiful and colorful Mandarina.
Wonderful sharpness and light. Very interesting note.
Livio

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