mandarin duck

American  

noun

1. a crested Asian duck, Aix galericulata, having variegated purple, green, chestnut, and white plumage.

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mandarin duck British  

noun

1. an Asian duck, Aix galericulata, the male of which has a brightly coloured and patterned plumage and crest

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Etymology

Origin of mandarin duck

First recorded in 1790–1800

Example Sentences

In 2018 a mandarin duck became a social media superstar as photos of his stunning multi-coloured feathers made every online influencer swoon.

From BBC • Aug. 7, 2021

She followed the famed mandarin duck, or “hot duck,” a celebrity bird who earlier stirred up a frenzy among New York birders, then disappeared.

From New York Times • Aug. 6, 2021

Twenty minutes later, the mandarin duck glided away, perhaps bothered by the growing crowd, perhaps just following the whims of his little waddling heart.

From Slate • Nov. 5, 2018

The mandarin duck, with zero conscious effort on his part, did that—and became an anthropomorphized hero for our times.

From Slate • Nov. 5, 2018

Rasseem added two green peacocks to his nation of birds, along with a mandarin duck.

From "The Many Assassinations of Samir, the Seller of Dreams" by Daniel Nayeri