What is this bird?

[ceejayt]

So, just looking at caravan club magazine and they are talking about Stover Park and have this photo of a bird.

Surely not a native bird and just a stock picture for the article ?

 

[CWH]

It's a male mandarin duck, which (i think) have become naturalised after being imported from china for decorative ponds

 

[ceejayt]

Thank you. And a good looking fella too

 

[Littlewheels]

Thank you. And a good looking fella too

Well the female must look out if this world.

 

[The Coops]

Well the female must look out if this world.

Nope, brown and drab!

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[Shrimp]

Females in the Bird world are usually drab, brown and no bright markings, they have to be to hide when sitting on eggs. If they were bright and gaudy they would be, literally, sitting ducks for the predators!

 

[ambulancekidd]

He is a very handsome boy.

 

[Gina M]

Very handsome, as are the male pheasants who strut their stuff around here

 

[Devon Sue]

Stover is one my regular photography haunts, in January there were a dozen or more of these mandarin ducks courtship displaying. The other unusual fact is that they nest in trees

 

[Podney]

Very tasty within a pancake with soy sauce,accompanied by spring onion and cucumber.

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[Derek’soldvan]

Got the wrong impression of the title thread, interesting but not the type I was expecting

 

[KUSKUS]

I took this picture many years ago at Slimbridge .
Spotted one on the river Severn at Brignorth Shropshire.