Stunning, rare Mandarin duck mysteriously appears in Central Park

[jpak]

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2018/11/01/rare-mandarin-duck-mysteriously-appears-new-york-central-park/1843323002/

A duck native to East Asia is making a splash in New York City's Central Park, partly because of the bird's stunning colors and also because no one knows how the bird got there.

The Mandarin duck was spotted as early as Oct. 10, according to a Twitter account that documents bird sightings at the park. Then, the exotic bird flew away and no one knew where it went for almost two weeks, David Barrett, the creator and manager of Manhattan Bird Alert, told The New York Times. To photographers' delight, it was spotted back on Oct. 25.

Since then, the duck has attracted a large fan base and a small band of paparazzi.

The new pond celebrity is easy to spot with a green and purple mohawk, sail-like feathers and purple chest.

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[littlemissmartypants]

1. I hate that it's all alone.

Something that good looking deserves an entourage if not a partner. So magnificent!

Thanks for sharing this, jpak.

♡lmsp

[dewsgirl]

2. Someone covered this in their monologue the other

night, I think Colbert or John Oliver. I love this story and it is cool that he/she has their own paparazzi following and fan base.

[MontanaMama]

3. This little duck has a band on his leg

which most likely means he was raised in captivity and escaped or was kicked loose. The info on the band would tell the story. Here’s a thread with the video:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100211349105

[2naSalit]

6. Banded might mean

he was caught in a population count on a migratory path, banded and released. There may be reporting contact info included on the band.

[MontanaMama]

10. You're right...that's possible.

A Mandarin in NYC is so very far off its migration path that it’s just much more likely it was bred in captivity closer to where folks are seeing him. Maybe someone will be able to get info off the band so we know for sure. It is fascinating! Mandarins are closely related to Wood Ducks which is probably why this one has made friends with a Woody on that pond. I’m glad he’s got a pal.


https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandarin_duck

[Mendocino]

14. Yes

Woodys and Mandarins are the only two of the same genus: Aix.

[TreasonousBastard]

4. Somebody on Pell St. is missing a duck.

[3Hotdogs]

5. Yeah, he was 'sposed to win a Tic-Tac-Toe. After losing 6 in a row ---

"Get your sorry ass out'a here."

[2naSalit]

7. A funny thought looking at the picture...

Mandarin Duck served on a bed of cilantro... or is that water cress?

[BigmanPigman]

8. When I first read the OP I thought it was about a NYC restaurant or a recipe.

[2naSalit]

9. I had heard about it a few times already but the picture

inspired that thought. I hadn't seen a picture of it yet so I am glad that the OP did! It's beautiful!

[MontanaMama]

11. I posted a reply to above

and instead of editing I thought I’d add something else here...my husband has been a bird taxidermist for 30+ years and he just watched the video...he noted that the wings hadn’t been clipped which they often are when birds are bred and kept in captivity. His sails are intact. That could mean this beauty WAS blown way off course OR he was bred here and escaped before he molted his flight feathers and he’s grown them back. It’s a mystery and lovey to see him.

[TNNurse]

15. Check Youtube for videos

there are lots and the color is amazing.

[2naSalit]

16. Thanks, I will do that...nt

[catchnrelease]

12. I'm going with captive escapee

Mandarins are commonly kept in private collections, so my guess is that he is an escapee. Especially if he has a band. But who knows, unless someone can get him and check the band it will remain a fun mystery.

I'm in SoCal and we've had some lone flamingos show up in places where they shouldn't be. Recently one was hanging around out in an estuary North of San Diego. The zoo there said they were not missing any birds. You were able to see the plastic leg band that is typically used on flamingos, and in a photo with it's wings open you could see that some of it's flight feathers had been clipped. So the assumption was that it's feathers had grown out enough to get some lift and it escaped it's 'home' collection.

[cab67]

19. I'm with you on this.

[PJMcK]

13. There's a great line in the NY Times article

But the duck, which has no known name, appears to be quite healthy, paddling across the sprawling Pond and even integrating with the native mallards.

Even the ducks in New York welcome visitors from across the pond, (ahem).

The full article is here: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/31/nyregion/mandarin-duck-central-park-pond.html?module=inline

[KY_EnviroGuy]

17. Someone needs to look out for ICE agents in the park.

Otherwise, he'll be in detention waiting for deportation.

Unless he has a job with a Republican corporation (political quack) or farm (guard duck).....

[PJMcK]

18. !

[Liberty Belle]

20. We have these in SAn Diego at Santee Lakes sometimes, beautiful.