Cupid (Photo credit: Phyllis Tseng/Wild Bird Fund
Feb. 15, 2021 By Christina Santucci
A Mandarin duck was found in Corona on Valentine’s Day and brought to the Wild Bird Fund in Manhattan–where rescuers named it Cupid.
“Just when we thought it was another humdrum day in February, Cupid arrived,” the rehabilitation center tweeted Sunday — along with a photo of the waterfowl.
There was no additional information available yesterday about where the colorful duck was discovered or about the person who brought it to the Wild Bird Fund.
The young male duck was thin, and seemed to suffer from intestinal issues, a spokesperson for the Wild Bird Fund said. In addition, Cupid was unable to fly.
The duck is currently being treated for parasites and other likely infections at the rehabilitation center.
Cupid is the first Mandarin duck — sometimes called “the most beautiful duck in the world” — that the Wild Bird Fund has ever cared for, a spokesperson said.
The vibrantly-hued birds, known for their elaborate plumage, are native to East Asia, and are sometimes kept as pets in the United States. However, it is illegal to own a duck in New York City.
It’s unclear whether Cupid had been someone’s pet.
Previously, another Mandarin duck, nicknamed “Hot Duck,” had become a viral sensation after he was spotted in Central Park in late 2018 — but that duck had reportedly disappeared by the following winter.
Meanwhile, Cupid already seems to have a few devotees of his own.
“Yes, we’ll also be admiring his impossibly fantastic coif,” the Wild Bird Fund wrote on Twitter.
