The Derek Zoolander of ducks was spotted Friday again in Burnaby.
The Mandarin Duck, as it's known, has been causing a stir in the media lately, and among birdwatchers, since it is not native to North America.
Burnaby NOW reader Glen Govier took this photo Friday afternoon at Deer Lake. The duck had been spotted in the fall at Burnaby Lake.
Some also refer to it as the “world’s most beautiful duck.”
“The mandarin, widely regarded as the world’s most beautiful duck, is a native of China and Japan,” explains the website Living with Birds. He’s a close relative of the North American wood duck–something Metro Vancouverites are very familiar with seeing in our local lakes and small waterways.
Similarly, the mandarin duck prefers small wooded ponds, which may explain where he (or they) have shown up in Burnaby Lake and Lost Lagoon in Vancouver.
So bird lovers, take note, this rare duck is a sight to behold–but be respectful if you’re checking him out.
- With files from Lindsay William-Ross
