If there is one creature in the waterfowl world that is very surprising in color  and form, it is surely the mandarin drake. One could wonder what’s the need to have those curious, outstanding orange-gold “sails” that extend up along its  flanks. Originally a native of China and Japan, this oriental beauty is widely kept  on ornamental ponds worldwide. The mandarin’s pair bonds are strong, and  pairs of caged mandarin ducks were formerly given as gifts at Chinese  weddings as symbols of marital fidelity.