Mandarin Duck

Why in news?

• A Mandarin duck was seen floating in the Maguri-Motapung beel (or wetland) of Assam’s Tinsukia district.

About Mandarin Duck:

• The mandarin duck   is a perching duck species primarily native to the East Asia.
• The species was once widespread in East Asia, but large-scale exports and the destruction of its forest habitat have reduced populations.
• Populations exist primarily in Russia, China, Japan with isolated feral populations in Britain, United States etc.
• They are marked as of Least Concern in IUCN red data book.

About  Maguri beel:

• The Maguri Motapung wetland — an Important Bird Area as declared by the Bombay Natural History Society — is located close to the Dibru Saikhowa National Park in Upper Assam.
• The entire ecosystem (grassland and wetland) is very important as it is home to at least 304 bird species, including a number of endemic ones like Black-breasted parrotbill and Marsh babbler.

PRELIMS QUESTION

Consider the following statements:
1.The Pink headed duck is a critically endangered species found in India.
2.Spoon-billed sandpipers are endemic to India.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a)1 only
(b)2 only
(c)Both 1 and 2
(d)Neither 1 nor 2

Answer to Prelims Question