* The author is part of the community of readers of La Vanguardia
In Las Fotos de los Lectores de La Vanguardia we can observe this endearing scene of the mandarin duck in the Banyoles pond.
The mandarin duck is a brightly colored species native to China, Japan and Siberia, which has been introduced to various parts of Europe and is highly prized for its beauty.
The mandarin duck is gaining presence in various parts of Catalonia, not only in Lake Banyoles, but also in Vallès, La Noguera and the Costa Brava.
The beauty and color of the male's plumage stands out (the female's is more discreet). Elegant and robust, it can measure up to 45 cm in length. A curiosity is that female and male only look alike if the latter is protected by its "eclipse" plumage.
The male is an unmistakable bird, with a red forelock with metallic green highlights on the forehead and two white or very light cream-colored lateral stripes, in which the dark eyes and coral-red beak stand out. As if they were beards, it has coppery orange feathers.
The chest and throat are purple; the belly is white, and the sides are cream-colored with two bluish bands, which give way to upward-curving orange stripes.
The Banyoles pond is the largest in Catalonia. El Estany and its lake basin are considered the largest karstic complex in Spain and constitute an environmental system of notable value.
