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Female Mandarin Duck


Female Mandarin Duck
Photo Information
Copyright: Pam Russell (coasties) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3816 W: 505 N: 8098] (27718)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-02-05
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 20D, Canon EF 100-400mm L IS USM, Digital RAW 200, Hoya UV 77mm
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2007-02-05 1:39
Viewed: 1181
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 54
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Aix galericulata (Mandarin duck)

Physical Description: In full plumage, the male has a pair of "sail" feathers that are raised vertically above the back, a crest of orange and cream feathers, and a broad white eye-stripe that is bounded above and below by darker feathers. The female is duller in colour and has an overall grey appearance marked by a curving white stripe behind the eye and a series of white blotches on the underpants. In flight, both sexes display a bluish-green iridescent speculum.

Habitat: The Mandarin lives in the forests of China and Japan. They prefer wooded ponds and fast flowing rocky streams to swim, wade, and feed in.

Reproduction: Mandarin courtship display is very impressive and includes mock-drinking and shaking. Pairs are formed at the beginning of the winter and may continue for many seasons. Although the female chooses the exact nesting site, the male accompanies the female on nest searches. Nest are always in a hole in a tree and can be up to thirty feet from the ground. In preparation for egg laying, the female lines the nest is with down. Clutch sizes range from nine to twelve white oval eggs that are laid at daily intervals. Incubation is solely performed by the female and last between 28 and 30 days. When all the eggs are hatched (they hatch within a few hours of each other), the mother calls to the chicks from the ground. Each chick then crawls out of the hole and launches itself into a free fall. Amazingly, all the chicks land unhurt and are en route to the nearest feeding ground. Once the chicks are able to fly (after 40-45 days), they leave to join a new flock.

Conservation Status: Destruction of habitat has had a severe impact on the oriental populations of Mandarins. In 1911, the Tung Ling forest, a Mandarin stronghold, was opened up for settlement and thereafter forests were cleared. By 1928 few sufficient breeding areas remained. The current Asian population may be under 20,000 birds. One factor that has helped the Mandarin to survive is their bad taste. These ducks are not hunted for food.

IMAGE INFORMATION

Camera: Canon 20D
Time of day: 11:15 a.m.
Date: 5th February 2007
Weather conditions: Overcast
Lens: Canon 100-400mm L IS USM
Filter: Hoya 77mm UV
Shutter Speed: 1/320
F-Stop: F/5.6
Focal Length: 400mm
Support: Hand Held
ISO: 200
Original file type: Digital Raw
elefantino, stevkds, clnaef, Adanac, Tamrock, mikou, uleko, gallezeric, Silvio2006, nainnain, scottevers7, marhowie, RAP has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Pam,
Great portrait. Good compo and exposure. Love the water droplets and the sky reflectiing in the eye. Looks like the pond at Piha with all those lily pads in the BG.
Cheers
Paul

fantastic portrait, the frame doesn't fit it though. TFS Ori

Nice portrait Pam, god details and compo.
Usefull notes.
Andrea

Perfect detail Pam. Great colour and composition. tfs. Stev

Bonjour,
Sympathique oiseau à l'oeil bien vif.
Bonne journée.
clnaef

  • Great 
  • pvs Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1168 W: 261 N: 3035] (13835)
  • [2007-02-05 3:46]

Hi Pam,

A great shot of this fellow,well exposed and very sharp,I like the drops on the head,well captured and TFS

Paul

  • Great 
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3315 W: 148 N: 6113] (18648)
  • [2007-02-05 3:57]

She is so so so so beautiful, isn't she? And I love the wet look about her. And comparing her to my photos I think I'll have to learn how to use RAW!!
Excellent capture, nice and sharp, and very real!
TFS and for today!
Janice

hi pam,
nice portrait of mandrain duck,
nicely composed,
good eye contact, natural colours,
tfs & regards
pankaj

It has very nice eye!Great pure high quality shot Pam.TFS

  • Great 
  • Adanac Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1169 W: 1 N: 5208] (17609)
  • [2007-02-05 6:27]

Hi Pam,
WOW, what fantastic details in this shot, the colors are great too, but the details in the plumage and the water droplets make it a hit for me, thanks.
Rick

hi pam!
very nice portrait on this
beautiful bird!
sharp with fine pov
good work!

  • Great 
  • mikou Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 840 W: 67 N: 1311] (5269)
  • [2007-02-05 7:03]

Hi Pam.
Beautiful portrait with very nice POV and perfect details.I like water droplets on plumage and very pleasant colors.Good blurry background too.
Well done,thank you for sharing.
Best greetings,
Milos

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3821 W: 190 N: 11376] (35063)
  • [2007-02-05 7:04]

Hi Pam,
Great close portrait of a Mandarin female duck. This is sharp, well lit and well presented with the little drops of water a nice touch.
TFS and best wishes, Ivan

  • Great 
  • SkyF Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2233 W: 188 N: 1929] (8127)
  • [2007-02-05 8:10]

Hello Pam,
compared to the male the female is colorless. Never the less also a beauty in her own way. The huge eyes and the eye make up is wonderful.
You captured her so well, the details are lovely and very sharp.
Great POV and excellent crop.
TFS..Sky

Hej Pam!
Doceniona kaczuszka mandaryna! To mi sie podoba, bo przewaznie widzimy na zdjeciach kaczora. Fotka ostra i ladnie rozmyte tlo. Dziekuje za wyczerpujacy opis. Naprawde duzo sie dowiedzialam .
Gratuluje i pozdrawiam - Roma

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2997 W: 162 N: 968] (2839)
  • [2007-02-05 9:28]

Hello Pam,
Brilliant close-up of this pretty duck. Great details of the wet plumage and water droplets and good contrasting background.
TFS and regards, Ulla

Hi Pam,
So beautiful portrait. Nice colors, very good details and good BG.
Cheers

bonjour pam
la pauvre est bien moins jolie que son male mais vous en avez fait un beau portrait,tres net.
laurent

hi Pam,

waaaahoooo which beautiful portrait this this bird splendid clearness one taste they well are seen which is more beautiful effect cheer

eric

I like head shots i often wonder what they are thinking food probably

Ciao pam, splendid portrait with excellent sharpness wonderful colors, great pose, lovely details, lovely drops on the heads, very well done, ciao Silvio

hello PAM
tres jolie capture de cet oiseau, tres bons détails, bon BG
bravo merci du partage
edith

Hi Pam,
An excellent portrait shot on this Mandarin Duck. Really great detail. I love the water droplets. Beautiful colors and tones with a great OOF backround.
Scott

Another excellent portrait Pam.
F/5.6 has produced a nice bokeh, I like it.
Very good exposure, color, and sharp details mf.
Very well done!

  • Great 
  • manyee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3067 W: 231 N: 6165] (21068)
  • [2007-02-06 1:33]

Wow, Pam.
What a beauty.
I love the ducks with those white rings around the eyes.
Wonderful sharpness and light.
I really like the colors in the BG.
TFS. : )

  • Great 
  • RAP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2524 W: 345 N: 2373] (7405)
  • [2007-02-06 6:26]

Another great close up Pam with amazing details.

Composition: ****
Sharpness: *****
Color: *****
Lighting: *****
Background: ****
Framing: *****
DOF: *****
Focus: *****
POV: *****
Frame: *****
Note: *****

Soft colors and marked textures conform an excellent post.
Cheers!
Ricardo

Hello Pam,
This is a great handled shot, congratulations. This is a real beauty. I love its color and eye a lot. You caught excellent details in a very good POV and composition. This is beautiful! Thanks,
Claudine
:0)...

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