One of these things is not like the others. One of these things just doesn’t belong.
Sesame Street
I kept thinking of this song when I went to a pond this morning that a friend let me know about where a non-native duck was seen. This lone Mandarin duck has found his crowd amongst a group of Mallard ducks along with two swans. They stuck together on the same section of the pond. Another Mandarin Duck two years ago showed up with a group of Mallards in the Central Park Pond. Like that duck, this one most likely was bought by someone and they either released it or it got away.
Mandarin Ducks are native to East Asia including Korea, Japan, China and other places. They are also becoming more common in parts of Europe. In some Asian cultures and religions the Mandarin duck is a symbol or marriage loyalty. It is said they mate for life.
I’m glad this duck found some other ducks to hang with. It is too bad he does not have a female Mandarin in his group. The other ducks seemed to treat him as one of their own. Regardless of the circumstances, I feel happy to have been able to catch a glimpse of him.
Sharon's Iconic Travel Photography Blog 
Stunning shots of such a colorful, gorgeous duck! ❤️
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It was from so far away. Most of the land around the pond was private property so I was very limited in where I could view from. It is stunning. So sad no female with him.
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Great catch and I can imagine all that could be deduced from this situation, both in terms of the arrival of imported (invasive) species and tolerance in the world of ducks.
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I don’t think he flew all the way here from Europe or Asia. Not sure he would even hitch a ride on a cargo ship. Poor thing. At times they huddled around him as they did with other ducks in this cold weather. Even the swans were huddling near him for a while blocking my view.
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Thank you for sharing such beautiful photos and interesting information!
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Thanks! It was interesting to see outside Asia.
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I remember seeing small painted wooden sculptures of mandarin ducks, their sign of loyalty/faithfulness is strong in Korean culture.
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I remember seeing those sold in stores. I think it is traditional for the couple to have these, am I correct?
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We spotted Mandarin ducks in the Scottish Highlands of all places!
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They say they are becoming more common in Europe. It must have been an added bonus with the scenery.
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Yes, I think they are. I read that there are over 7,000 Mandarin ducks in the UK. They were introduced to the island in the mid 18th century and over time some escaped and reproduced. I think they are so beautiful!
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As with many birds the male is much more colorful than the female. Feel bad this guy is the only Mandarin in his group. I think he is beautiful as well. Your kingfishers are much more colorful than the ones we have in NY.
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Beautiful ❣️
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