Two of the most beautiful ducks in the world are cousins, although they live an ocean apart. The mandarin duck is from East Asia; the wood duck, from North America. And both have a surprising habit: they live in forests by the water, perch on branches and nest in tree cavities. That means their ducklings are born up high. The day after hatching, they jump into the void, sometimes from several meters, to follow their mother to the water. They are so light that they land without getting hurt. The mandarin, with the orange “sails” on its back, is a symbol of love and fidelity in China. And the wood duck is a success story: a century ago it almost disappeared, and today it is common again thanks to protection.