雁形目

鸳鸯 Mandarin Duck
Aix galericulata

小型鸭类
体长 41~49 cm

虹膜 /iris

深褐色 /dark brown

嘴 /bill

雄鸟暗红色，尖端灰色；雌鸟褐色，嘴基白色 /pinkish-red with pale tip (males) or dark grey with white base (females)

脚 /legs and feet

橙黄色 /orange-yellow

目 │ 雁形目ANSERIFORMES 科 │ 鸭科 Anatidae

野外识别 │ 雌雄异色。雄鸟羽色鲜艳而华丽，头具艳丽的冠羽，眼后有宽阔的白色眉纹，颈侧有栗色领羽，翅上有一对栗黄色扇状直立羽，像帆一样立于后背，非常奇特和醒目，野外极易辨认。雌鸟嘴褐色，头和整个上体灰褐色，眼周白色，其后连一细的白色眉纹，亦极为醒目和独特。

居留及分布 │ 原产于亚洲东北部，后引进至欧洲。在中国，鸳鸯常在东北北部、内蒙古繁殖，在东南各省份和广东越冬，少数在云南、贵州、台湾等地是留鸟。在南岭为冬候鸟，在乳阳有分布。

生境及习性 │ 繁殖期主要栖息于山地森林河流、湖泊、水塘、芦苇沼泽和稻田地中，冬季多栖息于大的开阔湖泊、江河和沼泽地带。生性机警，极善隐蔽，飞行的本领也很强。杂食性，食物的种类常随季节和栖息地的不同而有变化。繁殖期 4—5 月。窝卵数 7~12 枚，卵多为白色。

Field identification │ A highly ornate medium-sized duck with a large head. Summer-plumaged males are unmistakable, with purplish forehead and crown, a broad white band above and behind the eye, elongated orange-rufous feathers on the lower sides of the head, a maroon breast with black and white vertical bands at the rear, orange flanks bordered by black and white, and extraordinary elongated orange tertials which can stand up like sails when the bird is swimming. Males in eclipse plumage resemble females but have a pinkish-red bill. Females are mainly greyish-brown, unmarked on the upperparts and heavily streaked or mottled white on the breast and flanks, and are usually marked with a narrow white line around the base of the bill, a prominent white eye-ring and a white line connecting the rear of the eye with the nape.

Distribution & status │ Breeds in East Asia, in parts of eastern Siberia, China (northeastern provinces south to Jiangxi), Korea and Japan. In Nanling, it is a rare passage migrant or winter visitor,only seen at Ruyang.

Habitat & habits │ Mandarin Ducks occur at ponds, lakes and rivers in wooded areas, usually in pairs or small parties.