Mandarin Duck

This species can be found on the following statutory and conservation listings and schedules.

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (global)	Least Concern
Schedule 1 license required (to disturb)	No
Birds Directive Annex 1	No
Listed on the Annexes of	WCA(IX)

The causes of change are uncertain. However, the increases following introduction may have been aided by lack of intraspecific competition and the ability of this species to exploit a previously unoccupied habitat; there is no evidence yet that density-dependent effects have slowed the rate of increase.

UK breeding population	+96% increase (2010–2020)
UK winter population	+213% increase (1995/96 to 2020/21)

Away from the swathe of records in southern and central England, the breeding distribution map shows tight clustering in areas of suitable breeding habitat such as Jersey, south Devon, Kielder Forest in Northumberland, Argyll Forest Park and around Inverness and Berwick. They are scarce in Wales.

There has been considerable range expansion since the 1988–91 Breeding Atlas, particularly through southern and central England, with an overall 123% increase in range size.

Mandarin Ducks are localised residents and can be seen throughout the year.

View a summary of recoveries in the Online Ringing Report.

Foreign locations of birds ringed or recovered in Britain & Ireland

View number ringed each year in the Online Ringing Report

Maximum Age from Ringing

10 years 4 months 25 days (set in 1999)

Wing Length	Adults	234.9±8.3 | Range 223–249mm, N=230
	Juveniles	226.4±10.3 | Range 212-237mm, N=25
	Males	239.4±8.5 | Range 230–251mm, N=105
	Females	231.1±5.9 | Range 220–240mm, N=125

Body Weight	Adults	616±64.89 | Range 500–700g, N=188
	Males	635±52.97 | Range 550–700g, N=85
	Females	601±69.94 | Range 500–700g, N=103

Feather measurements and photos on featherbase

Ring size	F*
Field Codes	2-letter: MN | 5-letter code: MANDA | Euring: 1780

For information in another language (where available) click on a linked name

Causes of change

No further information is available.

Further information on causes of change

No further information is available.

Information about conservation actions

As a non-native introduced breeding species, this species does not have a conservation status in the UK. The native population in Asia is currently classified as being of least concern.

It is believed that the Mandarin Duck is unlikely to have any significant ecological impact on native species, and a risk assessment in the Netherlands classified the species as a low risk (van Kleunen & Lemaire 2015). Although this may also be the case across most of England, there are concerns that the species may impact on other hole-nesting ducks (e.g. Goldeneye and Goosander), particularly in the core Goldeneye breeding area in northern Scotland (Cosgrove 2003), and hence policy makers may need to consider whether any conservation action may be required in order to protect these native breeding species.