Mandarin duck

Description:

The adult male duck has a red bill, large white crescent above the eye and reddish face and "whiskers". The breast is purple with two vertical white bars, and the flanks ruddy, with two orange "sails" at the back. Most Mandarin drakes reunite with the hens they mated with along with their offspring after the eggs have hatched and even share scout duties in watching the ducklings closely. They feed by dabbling or walking on land, eating a diet that varies by season and including plants, seeds, snails, insects, small fish, dew worms, frogs, mollusks, and small snakes. The Mandarin Duck symbol is used in Chinese weddings, because in traditional Chinese lore they symbolize wedded bliss and fidelity

Habitat:

Russia, Japan, China, Europe and a small population in North Carolina. Seen at Lake Geneva.