◎The Cultural Park Through the Seasons

Inokashira Park Zoo is divided into the main park and the annex. The annex houses Aquatic Life House where freshwater fish are kept, and outdoors, many geese and ducks are raised. Since 1988, the park has focused on raising Mandarin Duck, and has released the bred individuals into Inokashira Pond.

Mandarin Duck have been recorded inhabiting and breeding areas throughout Japan, from Hokkaido to Okinawa. In northern Japan, they migrate south in winter, while in western Japan, in addition to the original population, they are also found flying from far away in northern Japan and the continent. Mandarin Duck released at the cultural park seem to have dispersed throughout the Kanto region, but in September 1981, one male mandarin duck was recovered in Mandarin Duck, near the Ussuri River in Russia, 1300 kilometers north of the original location, after nine tagged mandarin ducks were released from Tama Zoo in September 1979.

The relationship between humans and Mandarin Duck ducks is ancient, with records indicating a history of 2,500 years in China and 1,200 years in Japan. Known as "oshi" or "shidori," they have been widely loved by writers and featured in waka and haiku poetry from ancient times, appearing in works such as the Manyoshu, Nihon Shoki, and Shinsen Wakashu, to the present day. "In the pond water, the mandarin duck's sword-like feathers stand out, its quarrel over its mate is fierce"—this poem, found in the Shinsen Wakashu, shows that Mandarin Duck 's behavior was already understood. Mandarin Duck have long been known as birds with strong mating bonds and a close relationship. Humans also use expressions like "mandarin duck couple" and "the vow of mandarin ducks" to describe a loving marriage. However, there are various theories regarding the behavior of male and female Mandarin Duck ducks outside of the breeding season.

Mandarin Duck is distinguished by the male's vibrant plumage. Although small for a duck, its white face, red beak, iridescent crest extending from the top of its head to the back, chestnut-colored striped feathers around its neck, and vertically standing reddish-brown ginkgo-leaf feathers on its rump make it indistinguishable from other species.

Females are plain in appearance, with a dark grayish-brown body and grayish-white markings on their chest and flanks. Males also molt around June, acquiring similar plumage to females, but they can be distinguished by their red beaks, while females have dark beaks. Around October, males molt again, displaying beautiful plumage. The males' showy colors are intended to attract females as mates. Visitors to the zoo can enjoy observing these changes from summer to autumn.

[Inokashira Park Zoo Aquatic Life House]

Photo above: Mandarin Duck Duck
Photo: Male and female Mandarin Duck ducks
Photo below: A male bird whose plumage has become similar to that of a female after molting (photo taken August 17, 2003).

(December 1, 2006)