Like most ducks, female Mandarins are much plainer than the drakes

They are very similar to the female of the only other small, angular-patterned and brightly coloured duck, - the American Wood Duck. Both females are of similar size, colour, pattern and with crest and clawed, webbed feet.

The main visible difference is the white eye border which is thinner in the Mandarin and with a line extending back like spectacles (Wood Duck also has thin yellow eye-border in side the thick white one).

Many male ducks vary their wardrobe with the seasons, moulting from a colourful breeding plumage to "eclipse" plumage, a drab winter garb which makes drakes look very like the camouflaged hens.

Above are Mandarin drakes in spring breeding plumage (left and far right) and nearly completed transition to winter clothes (centre).

Link to Wood Duck (male)