As its name suggests, the Mandarin duck comes from East Asia and is arguably one of the most beautiful ducks in the world. The ornate waterfowl became established in other regions following escapes from captivity, and a handful of small, isolated populations exist in the US. This fall, a Mandarin duck made headlines and blazed across social media when it appeared in New York City’s Central Park. The bird attracted crowds of onlookers hoping for a glimpse and a photo, while debates raged on how the bird may have ended up so far from its native territory. But Paul Sweet from the American Museum of Natural History"s Department of Ornithology explains on the Gothamist blog that ‘the black cable tie on its right tarsus clearly mark it as an escapee.’ Well done, lovely Mandarin!
A bird of beauty
Today in History
More Desktop Wallpapers:
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Celebrating the Acadians
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International Archaeology Day
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Henningsvær Stadion, Norway
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National Park Week: Olympic National Park, Washington
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A splash by the sea
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A rest stop for the birds
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The Giants Causeway, Northern Ireland
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The tortoise and the finch
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Arches National Park anniversary
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A Christmas market with a long history
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It s Census Day—make it count
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World Space Week begins
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International Jazz Day
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Sydney Harbour, New South Wales, Australia
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Thorrablot: The Icelandic midwinter festival
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Mount Rainier National Park
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Of moose and Maine
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Dog days of summer
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It’s Endangered Species Day
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Reflecting on fall
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Happy Mother s Day!
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National Park Week: Haleakalā National Park, Hawaii
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It s World Bee Day
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It s time for spring
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Queen Elizabeth s Platinum Jubilee
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The artists come to Venice
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Scottish Blackface sheep, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
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Registan Square, Samarkand, Uzbekistan
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Honoring the fallen
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The stylish Spanish shawl