When we use the word “beautiful” in English, we are usually talking about women, not men. Women usually wear brighter colors and makeup while men dress in less colorful clothes. However, it is different for many birds, especially ducks. Winter is the season when many different kinds of ducks come to Japan, and the male ducks are beautiful now. Some have green heads, and others have white necks and long tails. The females are usually just brown. The male mandarin duck (“oshidori”) is the most colorful of all the ducks. It has a red bill (mouth), an orange “beard,” and a white head with a purple and green crest on top. The sides are covered in purple, orange, and blue feathers with black and white stripes.