Conservation
The Mandarin’s Secret: How a Tree-Hole Duck Thrives in Britain
A jewel-bright escapee from Asia has quietly become one of our most treasured woodland ducks.
D
Dr. Mara Fenwick
Editor-in-chief · 1 min read · 8 Jun 2026
The mandarin duck looks too exotic for a British wood, yet here it thrives. Originating in East Asia, escaped and released birds have formed a stable, wild population in southern England.
The key to their success is their nesting habit: they lay their eggs high in tree holes, and ducklings tumble safely to the ground within a day of hatching.
