The Mandarin Duck

The Mandarin Duck is something of an enigma and, whilst the males are some of the most flamboyant birds in the world, they can be secretive and difficult to study, not least in the UK where a naturalised population has been present for many years. Christopher Lever has written extensively about non-native species in previous works, but here examines the Mandarin in more detail. This is a relatively short book, with the largest sections dealing with a review of the status of the species in its native East Asian home, and its introduction and subsequent spread within the UK. There are also shorter sections on conservation issues, the cultural significance of the Mandarin, introduced populations elsewhere in the world, and the biology of the species. The author is clearly enthusiastic about Mandarins within the UK avifauna; indeed, he includes an appendix describing the use of nestboxes. However, although there is indeed little current evidence of negative impacts caused by this species in a non-native setting, I did feel that the author might have explored the potential interactions of non-native Mandarins with their environment and other organisms somewhat more fully. The review of numbers in the native range, however, is extremely useful in setting UK birds into their correct international context. 

Book reviewed by Andy Musgrove